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A.    F.    Morrison 


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MENTAL  CONTROL  OF  THE  BODY  OR 
HEALTH    THROUGH    SELF-CONQUEST 


a 


MENTAL  CONTROL  OF  THE 
BODY  or  HEALTH  THROUGH 
SELF-CONQUEST    ::    ::    ::    :: 

BY 

VILLETTE  HUTCHINS  WHITE 


NEW  YORK 
EDWARD  J.  CLODE 


UBHARY 

COPYRIGHT,     I917 
BY    EDWARD    J.     CLODE 

GIFT  OF 


THIS  BOOK   IS  DEDICATED  WITH   DEEP   SYMPATHY, 

BUT  WITH  ABOUNDING  FAITH,   TO    ALL   WHO 

suffer;     WITH    THE    EARNEST    HOPE 

THAT  MANY  MAY  FIND  THROUGH 

ITS  STUDY  FREEDOM  FROM 

PAIN  AND  SURCEASE 

OF    SORROW 


f^94420 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

FOREWORD 9 

I.    THE  AIM 17 

II.    THE   LARGER  HOPE 29 

III.  THE  NERVOUS   CONTROL  OF  THE  BODY  .     .  39 

IV.  THE  TRAINING  OF  THE   WILL 51 

V.    THE     PLACE     OF     THE     WILL     IN     MENTAL 

HEALING 65 

VI.    THE  EDUCATION  OF  THE  LOWER  BRAIN      .  79 

VII.    THE  PHYSIOLOGICAL  BASIS  OF  WILL  CURE  89 
VIII.     THE     RISE     AND     PROGRESS     OF     MENTAL 

HEALING 105 

IX.    THE   GROUND  OF  OUR  HOPE 121 

X.    THE   SPIRITUAL  ASPECT 135 

XL    HEALTH  THROUGH  SELF-CONTROL     ....  147 

XII.  MODUS  OPERANDI  —  Continued 161 

XIII.    PRACTICAL  SUGGESTIONS 175 

XIV.    SCOPE  OF  THE  WORK  AND  ITS  LIMITATIONS  183 

CONCLUSION    .     . 191 


FOREWORD 

THE  indulgence  of  the  reader  is  asked  for 
a  brief  statement  of  the  facts  leading 
to  the  writing  and  pubUcation  of  this  book. 

Only  the  necessity  of  giving  proof  of  my 
knowledge  from  experience  of  the  practical 
value  of  the  method  of  cure  set  forth  in  this 
book  forces  me  to  give  this  personal  testimony. 

After  ten  years  of  invalidism,  during  which 
I  had  the  more  or  less  constant  attendance  of 
physicians,  I  found  this  way  to  health. 

Many  years  before,  in  desperation  from 
long  continued  suffering,  I  had  been  per- 
suaded to  try  another  form  of  mind  cure, 
but  did  not  find  it  suited  to  my  needs,  so 
now  felt  no  desire  to  seek  help  from  that 
quarter. 

However,  I  had  always  beUeved  that  there 
must  be  some  way  in  which  to  avail  ourselves 
of  God's  promises  for  the  body,  if  we  only 
knew  how. 


10  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

f  ;•  The  .gii^eiai ;  incentive  which  now  gave  spur 
'to  niy  efforts' was  the  faihng  health  of  my 
xiiily' sOB^  .whoiA  1 'wished  to  be  able  to  help. 

A  kind  friend,  an  earnest  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  taught  me  very  simply  how 
to  give  the  self-treatment.  She  had  been 
greatly  helped  by  Mr.  D.  W.  Starrett,  a 
mental  healer,  who  had  taught  her,  as  he 
does  all  his  patients,  to  secure  health  through 
the  use  of  the  will  upon  the  body. 

She  called  the  system  Scientific  Mental 
Therapeutics,  but  gave  me  in  a  single  short 
interview  merely  the  commands  in  a  simple 
form,  so  that  I  had  no  knowledge  whatever 
of  the  underlying  principles  till  subsequent 
research  revealed  them.  As  will  be  seen  on 
reading,  this  system  has  no  connection  what- 
ever with  any  heaUng  cult,  but  is  really  an 
approach  to  the  subject  from  an  entirely 
different  angle. 

Through  following  my  friend's  instruc- 
tions and  the  general  principles  herein  out- 
lined, a  great  physical  and  spiritual  uplift 
resulted.  The  vicious  circle  was  broken,  and 
I  was  lifted  entirely  out  of  the  rut  in  which 


Foreword  11 


so  many  years  had  been  spent.  Though  the 
realization  of  my  new-found  power  came  sud- 
denly, strength  returned  gradually,  but  a 
faithful  use  of  the  mental  means  alone  finally 
brought  estabUshed  health,  and  has  been  suf- 
ficient for  all  physical  needs  ever  since.  My 
son  also  soon  learned  to  use  the  same  method 
of  self-help  and  was  restored  to  his  former 
health  and  vigor,  and  later  many  others 
found  health  in  the  same  way. 

We  have  learned  that  the  way  to  physical 
as  to  spiritual  health  is  through  coworking 
with  God  and  so  helping  to  answer  our  own 
prayers. 

To  control  the  body  consciously  is  not  to 
detract  from  the  power  and  province  of  God 
in  the  life,  but  is  allying  ourselves  with  his 
omnipotence  and  depending  upon  his  con- 
stant presence,  knowing  that  *'we  have  this 
treasure  in  earthen  vessels,  that  the  excel- 
lency of  the  power  may  be  of  God  and  not 
of  us." 

"To  do  our  best,  and  leave  the  rest"  is 
always  the  divine  plan.  In  an  effort  to  under- 
stand the  experience  which  had  come  to  me 


12  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

and  mine,  serious  studies  were  undertaken 
and  pursued  which  soon  revealed  the  fact  that 
we  had  unwittingly  obeyed  the  laws  of  mental 
control  of  the  body. 

The  reader  is  advised  to  extend  his  knowl- 
edge and  strengthen  his  faith  by  reading  some 
of  the  many  books  on  mental  healing  from 
reliable  scientific  sources  that  are  now  before 
the  public.  Such  investigation  will  throw 
great  light  upon  his  mental  and  bodily 
constitution. 

The  aim  of  the  author  is  set  forth  in 
Chapter  First,  but  it  may  be  well  to  state 
that  it  is  not  intended  to  antagonize  any 
profession  or  class. 

The  great  value  of  scientific  investigation 
is  fully  recognized  and  an  appeal  made  for 
further  apphcation  of  its  discoveries  to  the 
needs  of  the  world.  Nor  is  it  the  purpose 
either  to  combat  or  support  Christian 
Science,  New  Thought,  or  any  other  heaUng 
cult,  to  which  incidental  reference  may  be 
made.  The  book  aims  to  teach  a  system  of 
Mental  Therapeutics  in  harmony  both  with 
the  most  advanced  scientific  thought,   and 


Foreword  13 


with  the  Word  of  God,  and  which  would  in 
no  way  tend  to  unsettle  religious  faith  or 
Church  loyalty. 

It  has  long  been  the  author's  conviction 
that  it  is  most  ungracious  of  any  church  or 
individual  to  deride  the  efforts  of  others  to 
reheve  suffering,  while  offering  nothing  upon 
their  own  part.  A  recent  letter  from  a 
Methodist  friend  says,  "I  firmly  beheve  God 
does  not  intend  or  wish  people  to  struggle 
along  year  after  year  burdened  by  ill  health. 
Jesus  would  never  have  healed  if  that  were 
so.  But  the  average  minister  is  afraid  to 
touch  the  subject;  hence  the  people  are  flock- 
ing to  the  Christian  Scientists. 

*'I  think  it  time  the  church  should  awaken 
to  the  fact  that  God  cares  for  the  body  as 
weU  as  the  soid." 

The  people  are  demanding  instruction  and 
help  along  physical  lines  as  their  rightful 
heritage,  and  this  need  must  be  met  in  some 
way.  It  is  hoped  that  this  may  be  a  sort 
of  practical  handbook,  which  in  connection 
with  some  exhaustive  treatise,  as  Sadler's 
"Physiology  of  Faith  and  Fear,"  could  be 


14  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

used  in  classes,  either  in  private  or  in  the 
churches. 

The  writer  does  not  assume  to  be  either  a 
theologian  or  a  scientist.  But  the  matter  of 
the  book  has  just  two  sources.  It  is  drawn 
from  the  best  and  most  recent  authorities 
in  the  scientific  and  religious  world  and  from 
the  undoubted  facts  of  personal  experience. 

The  great  systems  of  religious  as  well  as 
scientific  thought  are  based  upon  ascertained 
facts,  either  of  consciousness  or  of  research. 
The  great  test  to  which  everything  is  be- 
ing subjected  to-day  is  that  of  experience. 
Through  years  of  suffering  and  final  victory 
the  writer  has  had  ample  opportunity  to 
test  all  this  volume  contains;  and  it  has 
been  written  in  the  attempt  so  to  interpret 
those  experiences  in  the  Ught  of  modern 
research  into  the  relations  of  mind  and  body 
as  to  recommend  itself  to  other  sufferers,  and 
especially  to  the  churches  of  all  denomina- 
tions.    So  much  for  the  obvious  reason. 

But  a  deeper  and  more  compelling  motive 
is  in  the  conviction  that  it  is  a  duty  which 
cannot  be  evaded  without  condemnation. 


Foreword  15 


We  believe  that  God  often  leads  his  chil- 
dren through  fiery  trials,  into  the  fuller  Ught 
of  His  Will.  To  discern  His  purpose  and  to 
fulfill  it  is  the  Christian's  goal.  "Someone 
must  struggle  that  others  may  win,"  and  to 
have  gained  from  life's  experiences,  how- 
ever bitter,  something  that  will  help  others 
on  its  rugged  path,  is  reward  enough. 

It  is  the  writer's  earnest  hope  that  many 
may  here  find  help  for  themselves  and  others, 
and  become  members  of  that  great  host  who 
shall  pubhsh  ''good  tidings  of  redemption 
and  release"  for  body  as  well  as  soul. 

"Hast  thou  had  a  kindness  shown? 
Pass  it  on! 
'Twas  not  given  for  thee  alone; 
Pass  it  on! 
Let  it  echo  down  the  years, 
Let  it  dry  another's  tears, 
Till  in  heaven  the  deed  appears, 
Pass  it  on!" 


I 

THE  AIM 


MENTAL  CONTROL 
OF  THE  BODY 


CHAPTER  I 
THE  AIM 

IN  attempting  so  ambitious  a  project  as 
offering  to  the  public  another  book  on 
Mental  Healing,  the  only  sufficient  reason  is 
its  purpose,  which  is  to  present  the  subject  in 
such  a  simple,  practical  manner  that  it  may 
be  understood  and  grasped  by  the  masses 
of  the  people,  but  more  especially  by  the 
members  of  those  great  denominations  which 
form  the  vast  bulk  of  Christian  beUevers. 

Bodily  heahng  is  not  the  exclusive  pos- 
session of  any  sect  or  cult,  but  is  for  all 
humanity  and  was  evidently  originally  in- 
tended to  be  as  imiversal  as  salvation  for 
the  soul. 

The  subject,  in  the  past,  has  been  sur- 
rounded with  so  much  of  mystery  and  super- 


20  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

stition,  that  thinking  people  have  hesitated 
to  approach  it  for  fear  of  being  led  into 
fanaticism. 

However,  the  extreme  advocates  of  healing 
have  done  the  world  a  service  by  emphasiz- 
ing its  possibility  and  its  importance  to  the 
race;  but  their  imperfect  views  and  prac- 
tices have  left  many  mental  and  physical 
wrecks  along  the  way,  and  it  is  only  as  sci- 
entific investigation  has  patiently  discovered 
and  traced  its  possibility  in  the  body  itseK 
that  a  really  safe  and  sane  foundation  has 
been  laid  for  a  universal  application  of  the 
truth. 

At  last  the  veil  between  religion  and  science 
has  been  rent,  and  what  has  heretofore  been 
discerned  only  by  the  eye  of  faith  now  seems 
to  be  fully  demonstrated  by  the  word  of 
truth. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  purpose  of  this  book 
will  commend  itself  to  that  large  and  in- 
creasing number  of  people  who  look  with 
longing  upon  the  movements  outside  the 
churches,  which  seem  to  offer  help  they  do 
not  find  in  their  own  communions,  and  tend 


The  Aim  21 


to  stop  the  drift  away  from  the  orthodox 
churches,  and  "the  faith  once  deUvered  to 
the  saints." 

There  seems  to  be  a  dearth  of  Uteratm'e  on 
this  subject,  aside  from  the  purely  scientific 
treatises,  many  of  which  are  too  extensive 
and  too  technical  for  the  ordinary  reader. 

This  partly  explains  why  the  Uterature  of 
the  various  heaUng  cults  finds  such  a  wide 
reading.  It  is  hoped  that  this  book  may 
fill  this  need  to  some  degree,  and  that  the 
reader  may  find  in  it  the  truth  about  healing 
for  which  he  is  searching. 

The  attempt  will  be  made  to  show  that 
heahng  through  the  mind,  like  salvation,  is 
really  a  simple  thing  so  plain  that  "the  way- 
faring man,  though  of  simple  mind,  need  not 
err  therein." 

One  need  not  go  outside  of  his  own  church 
to  find  it,  nor  take  up  any  extensive  study 
of  obscure  theories.  All  that  is  necessary  is 
an  intelHgent  understanding  of  a  few  basic 
facts,  a  vital  faith  in  the  possibility  of  cure, 
and  a  disciphned  will  to  realize  upon  that 
faith. 


22  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

Another  object  sought  is  to  free  the  sick 
from  either  mental  or  financial  dependence 
upon  the  healer,  by  revealing  their  own 
powers. 

In  the  infancy  of  the  race,  men  looked 
upon  the  priest  as  the  one  who  held  the 
issues  of  life  and  death,  but  in  these  later 
days  they  have  been  taught  to  depend  upon 
Christ  alone  for  spiritual  help.  Even  so,  the 
time  is  at  hand  when  we  shall  find  our  physical 
needs  supplied  directly  from  the  great  foun- 
tainhead  of  life,  without  any  intermediary. 

This  form  of  mind  cure  can  be  used  in  our 
churches  without  conflicting  with  any  of  our 
doctrines  or  creeds.  Any  earnest  seeker,  of 
whatever  reUgious  faith,  if  he  fulfills  the 
conditions,  may  find  the  help  he  seeks,  and 
instead  of  interfering  with  his  reUgion  or 
his  love  for  the  church  of  his  choice,  he  will 
find  both  far  more  satisfying. 

To  the  one  who  seeks  and  finds  this  healing 
power  within  himself,  a  new  field  of  labor 
will  inamediately  open.  Each  one  becomes 
a  center  of  influence  in  his  church  or  neigh- 
borhood, and  can  be  a  soiu-ce  of  help  and 


The  Aim  23 


inspiration  to  those  in  need.  It  is  not  always 
easy  to  approach  those  in  sin,  as  there  is 
a  natural  resentment  which  springs  up  to 
combat  what  seems  like  correction  or  criti- 
cism; but  no  one  objects  to  suggestions  of 
physical  help,  since  while  all  do  not  wish  to 
be  good,  everyone  desires  to  be  well,  and 
almost  invariably  welcomes  any  proffered 
aid. 

Most  efficient  service  can  be  given  by  such 
a  sympathetic  friend  to  another  seeking  help, 
by  instruction  and  encouragement,  by  sug- 
gestions of  cure,  by  having  a  strong  faith  for 
the  seeker,  by  prayer  that  grace  may  be  given, 
just  as  the  Christian  worker  helps  another 
to  *'get  through"  when  seeking  salvation. 

If  we  need  scripture  warrant,  we  find  it 
in  these  words:  "If  two  of  you  shall  agree 
as  touching  anything  ye  shall  ask  of  my 
Father,  it  shall  be  done  unto  you." 

The  care  of  the  body  is  a  sacred  trust.  We 
cannot  despise  or  defile  this  temple  without 
great  loss.  We  are  individually  responsible 
for  its  condition.  As  children,  we  are  under 
the  control  of  parents  and  governors,  but  there 


24  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

must  come  a  time  when  we  assume  our 
rightful  responsibiUty  in  this,  as  in  all  other 
matters,  and  it  is  only  natural  to  suppose 
that  the  person  who  inhabits  his  own  body 
can  and  should  do  more  for  its  welfare  than 
any  outsider. 

The  matter  of  mental  heahng,  in  its  last 
analysis,  is  strictly  between  the  individual 
and  his  God,  and  it  will  be  the  earnest  effort 
of  the  writer  to  point  the  way  to  the  place 
and  operation  of  the  divine  power  upon  the 
body. 

Mental  healing  is  not  one  final  act,  but  is 
a  process  to  be  wrought  out,  in  which  the 
element  of  time  is  ever  present.  It  is  not 
something  to  be  done  for  us  from  without, 
once  for  all,  but  something  to  be  done  within 
us  daily,  through  the  union  of  our  own  efforts 
with  the  divine  elements  ever  present  in 
ourselves. 

It  is  our  part  to  set  in  motion  the  God- 
given  forces  within,  to  cooperate  with  nature 
and  so  energize  her  processes  as  to  secure  and 
maintain  health.  To  learn  to  use  these  forces 
as  a  method  of  seff-help  need  not  necessarily 


The  Aim  25 


bar  one  from  availing  himself  of  scientific 
aid,  and  in  some  cases  one  will  do  better  if 
every  earthly  prop  is  not  swept  away  at 
once.  Everyone  should  be  free  to  use  his 
own  best  judgment,  and  it  need  not  hurt  his 
conscience  to  seek  medical  help,  if  at  the 
same  time  he  is  doing  all  in  his  power  to  help 
himself.  The  conscientious  physician  will 
rejoice  to  find  in  his  patient  a  disposition  to 
combat  disease,  instead  of  weakly  yielding 
to  it,  and  often  that  attitude  of  mind  will 
turn  the  scales  in  favor  of  recovery.  Never- 
theless there  are  a  great  many  ailments  which 
are  the  despair  of  the  physician,  and  many 
reputable  professional  men  are  sending  such 
patients  to  the  Christian  Science  practitioner. 
It  is  to  meet  this  need  as  well  as  to  lay  down 
the  underlying  principles  of  mental  cure,  by 
which  the  race  may  attain  bodily  health,  that 
this  work  is  attempted. 

While  the  truth  about  mental  healing  is 
really  so  simple,  the  process  of  attainment  is 
not  so  easy  in  practice.  Its  take  courage, 
patience,  an  imfaltering  trust  in  the  Unseen, 
and   a  persistent  faithfulness  in  using  the 


26  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

mental  means.  While  the  only  absolutely 
necessary  requirement  to  secure  healing  is  the 
faith  of  the  seeker,  to  maintain  one's  hold 
upon  this  blessing  requires  a  high  degree  of 
self-control,  a  mind  at  rest  and  fully  stayed 
upon  God. 

Mental  self-mastery  is  the  first  essential, 
without  which  mastery  of  the  body  is 
impossible. 

Let  no  one  deceive  himself  into  thinking 
that  there  is  any  magic  process  by  which 
these  results  can  be  reached.  There  is  no 
royal  road  to  healing,  any  more  than  to 
learning.  How  many  have  turned  away  on 
finding  that  one  must  put  forth  effort  to 
achieve!  As  one  lady  said,  "I  would  so 
much  rather  take  a  pill,  it  is  so  much  easier." 
It  is  easy  to  imagine  what  was  in  the  heart 
of  the  Christ  when  he  said  to  his  followers, 
"And  will  ye  also  go  away?"  when  they 
found  the  way  of  life  a  rugged,  steep  ascent. 

Yet  the  rewards  of  effort  to  attain  are  so 
great  and  glorious  that  they  are  well  worth 
the  highest  endeavor.  To  encourage  all 
needy,  aspiring  souls  to  seek  this  highway 


The  Aim  27 


of  holiness  (wholeness)  cast  up  for  the  re- 
deemed of  the  Lord  to  walk  upon,  is  the  aim 
and  object  of  this  book,  and  in  the  earnest 
hope  that  many  may  find  health  and  happi- 
ness in  its  pages  it  is  sent  forth. 

"If  I  can  ease  one  life  the  aching, 
Or  cool  one  pain, 
I  shall  not  live  in  vain,  — 
I  shall  not  live  in  vain." 


II 

THE  LARGER  HOPE 


CHAPTER  II 

THE  LARGER  HOPE 

NO  subject  affecting  the  welfare  of  the 
human  race  is  of  more  vital  interest  at 
the  present  time  than  that  of  bodily  health. 
Were  it  possible  to  banish  disease  from  the 
world,  a  large  proportion  of  human  misery 
would  disappear.  With  physical  well-being 
the  sum  of  happiness  would  be  immeasurably 
increased,  and  the  world  which  is  now  to  many 
only  a  "pent-up  prison  house"  would  become 
almost  a  Paradise. 

Could  the  enormous  expense  caused  by  dis- 
ease be  done  away  with  and  the  great  host  of 
invalids  be  restored  to  the  possibility  of  self- 
support  by  becoming  producers  and  workers, 
instead  of  helpless  burdens  upon  the  efficient 
and  strong,  what  a  long  step  would  be  taken 
toward  solving  the  economic  questions  which 
press  upon  us  from  all  sides!  How  many 
hearts  would  grow  lighter,  how  many  homes 
would  be  brightened,  how  many  more  willing 


32  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

hands  would  help  to  do  the  world's  work;  how 
much  would  the  cares  of  life  be  eased,  and 
the  whole  course  of  existence  be  smoothed  and 
sweetened,  could  sickness  be  overcome!  If, 
in  addition,  it  were  possible  so  to  teach  the 
laws  of  health  to  the  young  of  the  present 
and  future  generations  that  they  might  be 
freed  from  the  burden  of  weakness  and  suf- 
fering, would  not  all  life  be  transformed  and 
glorified? 

This  has  been  the  dream  of  the  race  from 
its  earliest  history,  but  its  realization  has  been 
long  deferred.  Science  has  long  sought  the 
goal,  led  on  by  the  hope  of  decreasing  if  not 
eradicating  disease.  Much,  very  much,  has 
been  accompUshed  in  certain  directions;  but 
while  vaccination,  serums,  and  antitoxins 
have  helped  to  lessen  the  ravages  of  some 
diseases,  others,  such  as  pneumonia  and 
cancer,  have  not  proved  amenable  to  treat- 
ment and  are  increasing  in  frequency  and 
virulence  at  a  terrible  rate.  It  also  seems 
as  if  one  disease  had  no  sooner  yielded  to  the 
power  of  science  than  some  new  ailment  comes 
in  its  stead,  perhaps  more  obscure  and  in- 


The  Larger  Hope  33 

tractable  than  the  one  it  has  displaced. 
During  the  past,  with  few  exceptions,  hu- 
manity has  accepted  disease  as  an  inevitable 
part  of  our  earthly  lot.  The  fataUst  and 
pessimist  have  thought  it  a  part  of  life  from 
which  there  was  no  escape  and  have  borne 
it,  sometimes  with  the  grim  courage  of  the 
Spartan  but,  often,  when  hope  has  fled,  have 
succumbed  in  dull  despair  to  mental  and 
physical  bankruptcy  and  decay. 

To  the  behevers  in  a  Divine  Providence, 
sickness  has  been  accepted  as  a  mysterious 
dispensation,  intended  to  disciphne  and 
chasten  humanity,  and  so  aid  in  the  develop- 
ment of  character.  To  those  who  have  so 
beheved,  and  have  always  been  able  to  look 
behind  a  frowning  Providence  and  see  a 
smih'ng  face,  there  is  no  doubt  that  sickness 
has  had  a  blessed  ministry.  Some  of  the 
most  perfect  moral  characters  have  been 
developed  during  the  ordeal  of  lengthened 
illness  and,  according  to  their  own  testimony, 
they  learned  much  of  truth  and  the  meaning 
of  life  which  had  never  come  to  them  in  the 
years  of  health  and  strength.    So  we  cannot 


34  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

say  that  sickness  has  no  place  in  the  present 
world,  since  through  pain  and  weakness  some, 
perhaps  many,  have  found  a  purer  and  a 
higher  plane  of  Kving.  Yet,  when  we  look 
at  the  other  side  of  the  question  and  see  the 
unnumbered  millions  who  have  found  in 
sickness  a  leaden  weight  constantly  depress- 
ing and  destroying  their  higher  aspirations, 
thwarting  their  worthy  ambitions,  making 
success  in  life  impossible,  filling  their  days 
and  nights  with  torment,  we  do  not  wonder 
that  to  these  unfortunates  life  seems  an 
unequal  battle  and  they  go  down  to  defeat. 
It  raises  the  question  whether  the  few  who 
conquer  do  so  because  of  physical  suffering 
or  in  spite  of  it.  And  the  query  follows: 
Would  not  the  acceptance  of  divine  truth, 
and  its  incorporation  into  their  lives,  have 
the  same  effect,  and  thus  many  be  saved  to 
usefulness  in  the  world? 

There  is  a  deep  instinctive  feeling  in  the 
race  that  sickness  is  undesirable,  and  all  are 
trying  to  avoid  or  overcome  it.  The  thought 
is  rapidly  growing  in  the  minds  of  men  that 
instead  of  blindly  submitting  to  the  ravages 


The  Larger  Hope  35 

of  disease  as  a  dispensation  of  Providence, 
it  is  something  to  be  fought  and  overcome 
just  as  much  as  sin  or  poverty,  or  any  other 
ill  which  afflicts  humanity.  A  large  hope  is 
growing  in  the  minds  of  many  that  disease 
may  be  conquered. 

Our  Christian  forces  are  in  the  contest  with 
evil,  in  all  its  forms.  Our  teachers  and  mis- 
sionaries are  girdUng  the  globe  with  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth  which  shall  purify 
and  elevate  the  race.  The  sentiment  of  a 
common  brotherhood  is  touching  all  hearts, 
and  a  mighty  effort  is  now  being  made  to  do 
away  with  the  poverty  which  crushes  and 
degrades  so  large  a  proportion  of  mankind. 
Why  shall  we  not  look  forward  to  the  time 
when  the  lovers  of  humanity  shall  also  join 
in  a  mighty  struggle  against  this  dread  foe 
of  peace,  happiness,  and  progress  —  bodily 
sickness? 

With  the  growth  of  altruism  and  a  concerted 
effort  for  the  conamon  uplift,  why  is  not  this 
the  fit  hour  to  help  usher  in  the  time  when 
"there  shall  be  no  more  pain".^^  Why  should 
we  refer  all  these  promised  blessings  to  the 


36  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

future  life?  If  we  can  enjoy  the  spiritual 
blessings  of  Heaven  in  the  present  time,  to 
which  many  lay  claim,  why  is  it  unreason- 
able or  extravagant  to  expect  that  as  the 
warfare  against  moral  evil  goes  on  to  suc- 
cessful culmination,  so  will  the  warfare  against 
disease  terminate  in  bodily  as  well  as  spiritual 
perfection?  Why  is  it  any  more  unreasonable 
to  hope  for  the  redemption  of  the  body  than 
for  that  of  the  soul?  We  find  a  most  wonder- 
ful and  significant  statement  as  a  ground  for 
this  hope  in  the  eighth  chapter  of  Romans, 
where  the  Apostle  Paul  makes  the  following 
prophetic  utterance:  "For  I  reckon  that  the 
sufferings  of  this  present  time  are  not  worthy 
to  be  compared  with  the  glory  which  shall 
be  revealed  in  us." 

"For  the  earnest  expectation  of  the 
creature  waiteth  for  the  manifestation  of 
the  sons  of  God.  .  .  . 

"Because  the  creature  itself  shall  also  be 
deUvered  from  the  bondage  of  corruption  into 
the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of  God. 

"For  we  know  that  the  whole  creation 
groaneth   and   travailleth   in   pain   together 


The  Larger  Hope  37 

until  now,  and  not  only  they,  but  oiurselves 
also,  which  have  the  first  fruits  of  the  Spirit, 
even  we  ourselves  groan  within  ourselves 
waiting  for  the  adoption,  to  wit:  the  redemp- 
Hon  of  the  body.'' 

Those  who  have  felt  the  healing  touch  and 
have  found  the  way  to  health  and  happiness 
reaKze  the  fulfillment  of  this  prophecy  in 
themselves  and  understand  fully  what  the 
sweet  singer  of  Israel  meant  when  he  broke 
out  into  praise  to  Him  '*who  forgiveth  all 
our  iniquities  and  healeth  all  our  diseases." 

We  also  beUeve  that  the  same  Redeemer 
who  taketh  away  the  sins  "of  the  world"  also 
**bare  our  sicknesses,"  and  that  through  un- 
derstanding how  we  may  cooperate  with  the 
Power  "which  worketh  in  us  to  will  and  to 
do  of  His  good  pleasure,"  we  may  step  out 
into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of 
God. 

We  beheve  that  Christ  is  stiU  the  Great 
Physician,  but  that  now,  as  ever.  He  works  in 
and  through  the  human  mind  and  through 
the  mind  reaches  the  body.  As  we  learn  more 
of  the  mental  and  physical  constitution  of 


38  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

man,  we  shall  be  better  able  to  avail  our- 
selves of  this  mental  and  spiritual  power  with 
which  we  are  endowed,  and  which  may  be 
wonderfully  increased  by  constant  use,  till, 
like  the  people  of  Christ's  time,  we  shall 
glorify  God  who  has  given  such  power  to 
men. 


Ill 

THE  NERVOUS  CONTROL  OF 
THE  BODY 


CHAPTER   III 

THE  NERVOUS  CONTROL  OF  THE  BODY 

IT  is  not  necessary  to  rehearse  facts  con- 
cerning the  harmful  influence  of  depressing 
mental  states,  since  they  are  becoming  familiar 
to  all. 

Nor  does  it  seem  necessary  to  claim  that 
mental  conditions  are  the  cause  of  all  illness. 

One  of  the  gentlest  of  ladies  happened  to 
mention  to  a  friend  —  an  enthusiastic  ad- 
herent of  a  heahng  cult  —  that  she  had  a 
bunion;  to  which  her  friend  rephed,  "Oh, 
you  must  hate  somebody!"  A  little  com- 
mon sense  would  have  suggested  that  an  ill- 
fitting  shoe,  and  not  a  state  of  mind,  was 
responsible  for  the  trouble.  So  there  may  be 
many  immediate  causes  for  disease  aside  from 
mental  states. 

What  the  world  desires  and  needs  to  know 
is  how  to  overcome  illness  through  the  power 
of  the  mind,  and  so  build  up  the  health  of  the 


42  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

body  as  to  give  it  an  inward  resistance  and 
thus  render  it  immune  to  disease. 

Science  teaches  that  the  body  is  run  and 
controlled  by  forces  within  itself,  that  the 
motive  power  consists  in  mental  energy, 
generated  in  the  central  nervous  system, 
whence  it  is  transmitted  through  conducting 
channels  to  every  tissue,  cell,  and  organ  of  the 
body,  vitalizing  their  every  action. 

It  is  only  a  fair  conclusion  that  anything 
which  affects  the  brain  adversely  will  limit 
its  output  of  nervous  energy,  entailing  suf- 
fering upon  the  rest  of  the  body.  The  most 
famihar  illustration  of  this  fact  is  to  be  seen 
in  the  student  who  burns  the  midnight  oil, 
thus  consuming  all  his  nerve  force,  only  to 
find  himself  physically  impoverished. 

In  these  days  of  high  pressure,  many 
unfortunates  come  into  the  world  lacking 
sufficient  power  to  run  the  bodily  machine 
efficiently,  and  are  practically  invalids  from 
the  first,  through  no  fault  of  their  own. 

But  the  Creator  has  not  left  us  without 
hope  or  help,  since  within  us  he  has  placed 
all   the   elements   necessary   to   secure   and 


The  Nervous  Control  of  the  Body         43 

maintain  health  if  we  but  knew  how  to  use 
them. 

In  the  blood  are  all  the  materials  for  build- 
ing up  the  physical  structure;  in  the  various 
glands,  substances  are  formed  to  meet  special 
needs,  which  act  as  stimulants  to  nature's 
processes. 

It  is  even  claimed  by  Dr.  Abderhalden,  an 
eminent  German  physiologist,  that  the  body 
has  the  power  of  natural  diagnosis,  and  that 
when  disease  impends,  special  antidotal  fer- 
ments are  formed  and  thrown  into  the 
circulation  to  counteract  the  threatening 
conditions. 

Dr.  C.  W.  Saleeby,  an  EngUsh  medical 
writer,  says  that  the  only  ciu'ative  drugs  are 
those  of  the  body's  own  making.  The  ex- 
tracts and  serums  prepared  from  the  organs 
of  healthy  animals  and  administered  to  sup- 
ply a  lack  in  the  corresponding  organ  of  the 
human  being,  show  how  this  idea  is  growing 
in  medical  circles.  Extracts  from  the  thyroid 
gland  of  a  sheep,  pepsin,  pancreatin,  and 
adrenaUn  from  other  animals,  and  even  white 
corpuscles  developed  from  the  blood  of  a 


44  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

horse,  are  administered,  as  being  of  physical 
origin  and  hence  capable  of  meeting  a  physical 
need  in  man. 

While  this  may  be  the  most  advanced 
method  of  medication  to-day,  the  fact  re- 
mains that  it  is  not  considered  good  practice 
to  do  anything  for  the  body  which  it  is  able 
to  do  for  itself.  This  evil  is  seen  in  the  use 
of  pepsin  and  predigested  foods,  which  after 
a  time  cause  the  stomach  to  **he  down  on 
its  job."  j 

The  body  should  be  forced,  if  possible,  to 
take  care  of  itself  and  upon  the  nervous 
system  falls  the  task  of  regulating  and  sus- 
taining all  the  vital  processes. 

Theforce  which^s_^ways  at  woA  is  called 
by  Dr.  Sadler  neuricity,  by  others  electog- 
magnetism.  ^  — 

It  resembles  electricity  in  its  manifesta- 
tions, but  for  the  sake  of  simplicity  will  be 
spoken  of  as  nerve  force,  or  energy.  Since  it 
flows  from  the  brain,  it  can  never  be  dis- 
tinguished from  mental  energy,  and  while 
much  of  its  action  is  automatic  or  unconscious, 
yet  a  wonderful  intelligence  is  shown  in  its 


The  Nervous  Control  of  the  Body         45 

operations.  The  bodily  organs  are  constantly 
stimulated  to  perform  their  functions  by 
nervous  impulses  passing  over  the  sympathetic 
nervous  system. 

This  fact  is  the  foundation  upon  which  are 
built  the  schools  of  osteopathy,  chiropractic, 
and  mechanotherapy.  Any  interference  with 
the  nervous  flow  means  an  enfeebled  organ. 
So  the  spine,  from  which  proceed  the  vaso- 
motor nerves,  is  manipulated,  its  vertebrae 
and  adjacent  ribs  are  adjusted,  the  spinal 
nerves  are  stimulated  by  deep  pressure,  the 
nerve  impulses  set  in  motion,  thus  increas- 
ing circulation  and  nutrition. 

An  osteopath  was  asked,  while  giving  a 
treatment,  what  he  was  trying  to  accom- 
pUsh,  to  which  he  repUed,  "I  am  releasing  the 
life  forces." 

In  the  words  of  Dr.  Schofield,  England's 
most  eminent  authority  on  nervous  diseases, 
in  "Nerves  in  Order":  "Nerve  power  is  the 
very  force  of  Ufe,  and  if  it  fail,  life  fails. 
However  perfect  the  machinery,  it  is  useless 
if  there  be  no  steam,  for  after  all  it  is  the 
nerve  force  that  drives  the  body.     Nervous 


46  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

breakdowns  are  responsible  for  all  functional 
diseases,  as  well  as  often  being  a  contributing 
cause  in  organic  disease." 

A  typical  treatment  by  a  well-known  prac- 
titioner of  hypnotism  may  illustrate  this 
point: 

After  putting  his  patient  into  a  passive, 
relaxed  condition,  he  talks  to  him  as  follows: 
"You  probably  do  not  realize  that  your 
brain  or  mind  controls  the  muscles,  nerves, 
and  blood  vessels  of  your  entire  body,  but  it 
does.  Just  as  your  brain  or  mind  uncon- 
sciously controls  yovu*  heart's  action,  your 
breathing,  and  yoiu*  circulation,  so  does  it 
control  all  other  parts  of  your  body.  There 
are  running  to  and  from  the  brain  innumerable 
nerves  or  wires  to  all  the  different  parts  of 
the  body,  just  Uke  telephone  or  telegraph 
wires.  The  brain,  or  mind,  sends  messages 
to  and  receives  messages  from  all  these  dif- 
ferent parts  consciously  or  unconsciously." 
When  the  patient's  will  is  completely  yielded 
to  the  hypnotist,  he  proceeds  to  send  sug- 
gestions to  the  mind,  and  through  his  stronger 
will  to  supplement  and  strengthen  the  force 


The  Ne^ous  Control  of  the  Body        47 

of  the  messages  akeady  passing.  The  un- 
doubted fact  is  that  these  orders  are  received 
by  the  brain;  and,  finding  no  hindrance  in 
the  relaxed  body  or  the  passive  mind,  they 
are  carried  over  the  nervous  system  and 
serve  as  stimuH  to  the  nerve  centers  which 
control  the  body. 

What  is  this  but  an  outflow  of  energy, 
stimulating  the  lethargic  organs  to  greater 
activity? 

Let  one  receive  an  injury,  as  a  bruise,  the 
sensory  nerve  instantly  sends  a  message  to  the 
brain,  which  in  turn  immediately  stimulates 
the  center  of  circulation,  which  sends  out  a 
message  to  the  blood  supply.  The  response 
follows  in  the  congested  area  around  the 
bruise,  which  is  nature's  method  of  ciue,  by 
building  up  injured  tissues  through  the 
restorative  power  of  the  blood. 

Mental  physiology  has  amply  demonstrated 
that  these  messages,  orders,  or  commands  are 
constantly  flashing  throughout  the  body, 
and  it  is  by  means  of  this  intercommuni- 
cation that  the  automatic  processes  are 
maintained. 


48  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

The  vital  question  for  the  reader  is  to 
know  whether  he  can  draw  upon  his  own 
mental  resources,  and,  using  his  own  mind  and 
will,  instead  of  depending  upon  the  hypnotist 
or  healer,  influence  his  body  for  good.  Can  he 
consciously  start  nerve  currents  flowing  from 
the  brain  that  will  either  directly  or  indirectly 
reach  nerve  centers  and  wake  them  into 
renewed  life? 

All  great  authorities  say  that  every  function 
of  the  body  can  be  affected  by  the  emotions, 
but  at  the  same  time  say  the  emotions 
should  be  controlled.  Something  more  than 
a  mere  mental  state  is  needed  to  energize 
the  body. 

There  must  be  a  mental  power  suflicient 
to  overcome  nerve  inertia,  to  stimulate  in- 
hibited nerve  action,  to  increase  circulation 
and  give  tone  and  vigor  to  all  the  vital 
processes. 

Dr.  Sadler  says:  "Any  power  gaining  control 
of  the  brain  and  nerve  centers  will  be  able 
eventually  to  gain  control  of  the  entire  body. 
Not  only  are  the  brain  and  its  associated  nerve 
centers  the  recipients  of  all   the   impulses 


The  Nervous  Control  of  the  Body        49 

coining  in  over  the  nervous  system,  but  they 
are  also  the  seats  of  authority  from  which 
the  mind  sends  out  all  mental  messages  to 
the  remotest  cells  of  the  body." 

Physiologists  dispute  the  power  to  influence 
directly  through  the  will  the  functions  which 
are  under  the  automatic  control  of  the  sym- 
pathetic system,  and  we  need  not  question 
their  dictum. 

One  cannot  say,  **  I  will  circulate  my  blood," 
"I  will  digest  my  food,"  and  accomphsh  any- 
thing, but  nevertheless  it  is  possible  to  af- 
fect all  these  functions  indirectly,  through 
stimulating  by  the  will  the  nerve  centers 
controUing  them.  We  can  consciously  send 
imperative  messages  by  way  of  these  great 
nerve  centers,  which  will  be  obeyed,  and  in 
time  the  whole  body  can  be  made  subservient 
to  the  will. 

In  learning  to  exercise  this  power  over 
ourselves,  we  prove  our  kinship  with  God,  of 
Whom  it  has  been  said,  "Law  is  the  mani- 
festation of  His  mind,  force  the  movement  of 
His  wiU," 


50  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

Great  thinkers  hold  to-day  that  the  only 
ultimate  force  is  in  the  energy  of  the  divine 
Will,  so  that  in  striving  to  use  our  own  wills 
in  harmony  with  the  laws  of  our  being,  we 
are  truly  partakers  of  the  divine  nature. 


IV 
THE  TRAINING  OF  THE  WILL 


CHAPTER   IV 
THE  TRAINING  OF  THE  WILL 

"  If  you  think  you'll  lose,  you're  lost; 
For  out  in  the  world  we  find 
Success  begins  with  a  fellow's  will; 
It's  all  in  the  state  of  the  mind." 

THE  need  of  training  the  will  is  not 
always  fully  realized,  but  its  education 
is  really  of  far  greater  importance  to  the 
individual  than  that  of  his  intellect. 

Religion  alone  adequately  inculcates  this 
necessity.  The  gospel  was  proclaimed  at  the 
first  as  being  for  **men  of  good  will." 

Christ  said,  ''He  that  willeth  to  do  the  will 
of  my  Father  shall  know  of  the  doctrine." 

All  genuine  obedience  to  authority  is 
through  the  will.  The  great  Teacher  said, 
"Ye  wiU  not  come  unto  me  that  ye  might 
have  life." 

We  are  urged  to  "strive,  to  enter  in," 
which  implies  strenuous  exertion  of  the  will. 


54  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

We  are  told  to  ask  that  it  may  be  given 
unto  us;  to  seek,  that  we  may  find;  to  knock 
that  it  may  be  opened  unto  us.  The  parable 
of  the  man  coming  at  night  to  ask  for  bread 
plainly  states  that  it  was  because  of  his  im- 
portunity that  his  request  was  granted;  in 
other  words  he  would  not  be  denied.  What 
is  this  but  an  encouragement  to  put  forth 
the  will  in  the  strongest  possible  way;  in 
other  words  to  come  boldly  to  a  throne  of 
grace? 

This  note  is  struck  constantly  from  the 
first  to  the  last  of  the  Christian  revelation, 
till  in  its  closing  pages  the  gracious  words 
ring  out:  "Whosoever  will,  may  come  and 
take  of  the  water  of  life  freely,"  which  life 
is  as  efficient  for  our  physical  as  for  our 
spiritual  needs. 

J,  Brierly,^  in  ''RgjigJQii  ajd_£xperience," 
writes  on  thissubject:  ^^T^  human-wUl^ 
of  all  things  m  this  earth  the  most^jgqnderful, 
the  mostjaSed. 

''^To  add  to  its  resources,  to  open  up  to  it 
the  way  of  inner  reinforcement,  should  be 
the  one  supreme  object  of  spiritual  educa- 


The  Training  of  the  Will  55 

tion.  For  it  is  here,  in  this  secret  place,  man 
touches  his  godhood. 

"It  is  here  in  the  soul's  innermost,  holiest 
ground,  when  with  this  single,  invisible  force 
he  meets  the  onset  of  passion,  the  craven 
voice  of  his  fears,  the  soUcitations  of  the 
world,  the  threat  of  foes,  with  his  invincible 
'I  will,'  that  man  shows  his  kinship  with  the 
God  who  made  him." 

Again,  "The  will  feels  itself  most  divinely 
free  when  it  mysteriously  realizes  its  unity 
with  the  imiversal  Will,  out  of  which  itself 
has  come.  It  is  by  this  reinforcement  and 
spiritual  direction  of  the  individual  will  that 
man  wiU  eventually  fight  down  all  his  foes 
and  come  into  his  Kingdom."  Further, 
"What  is  wanted  in  the  individual  is  not  less 
will,  but  more  and  ever  more  of  it.  There  is 
no  character  in  subjection.  It  is  in  volition, 
the  subtlest,  mightiest,  most  wonderful  thing 
in  the  universe,  in  the  fullest,  freest,  most 
reasoned  exercise  of  it,  that  man's  value  really 
consists." 

Brierly  insists  that  through  this  power  it  is 
possible  to  recreate  one's  temperament,  and 


56  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

appeals  especially  to  those  who  naturally 
tend  to  melancholy.  To  such  he  says,  "But 
the  melancholy  man  has  his  remedy.  It  lies 
in  the  daily  energy  of  his  will.  When  the 
black  thoughts  come,  a  strong  voUtion,  Uke  a 
breeze  from  the  north,  will  sweep  away  the 
clouds.  We  can  will  the  thoughts  which  are 
to  come  to  us,  the  memories  on  which  to 
feed,  and  the  prospects  for  the  mind  to  gaze 
upon.  Our  world  will  change  for  us  by  the 
constant  repetition  of  this  process. 

"If  we  will  to  be  cheerful,  to  banish  the 
unwholesome  fancies,  the  brooding  resent- 
ments, the  sense  of  slights  and  injuries,  and 
instead  to  summon  to  our  thought  the  causes 
of  gratitude,  the  sense  of  the  good  in  Ufe,  the 
reason  for  aspiration  and  hope,  we  can  do  it. 

"It  is  in  this  way  that  men  create  their 
world,  and  make  a  good  one  or  a  bad  one  of 
it,  apart  from  all  consideration  of  external 
fortune.  They  have  made  it  by  making 
themselves." 

Dr.  Powell  of  Hobart  College  writes: 
"There  is  only  one  way  to  character,  and 
that  is  through  the  will.    But  we  fail  to  use 


The  Training  of  the  Will  57 

the  will.  From  disuse  it  becomes  weak,  and 
when  the  great  occasion  comes,  we  are  not 
equal  to  our  role." 

Ibsen  expresses  the  same  thought  in  these 
Unes: 

"It  is  will  alone  that  matters, 
Will  alone  that  mars  or  makes; 
Will  that  no  distraction  scatters, 
And  that  no  resistance  breaks." 

Were  it  not  for  the  possession  of  the  will, 
personal  responsibihty  would  be  a  hideous 
impossibihty.  As  it  is,  God  has  ennobled 
and  dignified  man  by  making  him  master  of 
his  own  destiny. 

A  recent  writer  puts  it  in  these  strong  words: 
"You  have  to  educate  yourself.  Your  mind 
is  yoiu's  and  can  be  used  only  by  you.  You 
must  make  your  own  decisions  and  abide  by 
the  consequences  of  yom*  own  acts." 

An  eminent  physician  recently  told  a 
patient:  "I  cannot  make  you  well  unless 
you  make  yoiu'self  well." 

You  alone  can  regulate  your  habits  and 
make  or  unmake  your  health. 

Said    a    Brooklyn   preacher,   offering    his 


58  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

parishioners  communion:  "I  cannot  give  you 
the  blessings  and  benefits  of  this  holy  feast. 
You  must  appropriate  them  for  yourself.  The 
banquet  is  spread,  help  yourself  freely.  You 
may  be  taught  by  a  teacher,  but  you  have 
to  imbibe  the  knowledge.  He  cannot  trans- 
fuse it  into  your  brain  cells.  You  have  to 
master  your  own  faculties  and  solve  your  own 
problems." 

By  what  other  power  can  personality  be 
created  and  developed  except  through  the 
intelligent,  individual  will.^ 

Nowhere  is  an  absolutely  inflexible  will  of 
more  value  than  when  endeavoring  to  recover 
lost  health.  Dr.  Schofield  says,  "A  strong 
will  is  a  good  therapeutic  agent,"  and  when 
disciplined  and  directed  it  gives  one  a  sense 
of  power  and  self-reliance  that  can  never  be 
felt  so  long  as  one  depends  upon  any  sort  of 
a  healer. 

Hypnotism  is  said  to  paralyze  the  will  by 
inhibiting  the  action  of  the  brain  and  substi- 
tuting the  will  of  the  hypnotist. 

The  Immanuelist,  Christian  Scientist,  and 
mental  healers  of  every  school  attempt  to  do 


The  Training  of  the  Will  59 

for  the  patient  what  he  should  be  taught  to 
do  for  himself.  The  vast  majority  of  people 
are  in  complete  ignorance  of  their  powers, 
and  must  look  to  the  conscientious  students 
of  the  mind  to  be  taught  the  use  of  the  will 
and  through  it  mastery  of  both  mind  and 
body. 

It  would  seem  that  the  great  body  of  physi- 
cians would  welcome  this  arm  of  power,  and 
would  teach  their  patients  to  help  themselves 
through  mental  hygiene,  as  well  as  by  any 
other  means.  A  few  have  become  pioneers, 
and  are  adding  to  their  success  by  teaching 
their  patients  to  control  their  bodies  through 
autosuggestion,  and  by  using  the  methods 
herein  outhned. 

Dr.  Schofield  strongly  indorses  this  method 
as  follows:  "Autosuggestion  is  available  to 
a  large  extent  in  the  early  stages  of  nerve 
and  mind  troubles  and  may  be  most  success- 
fully carried  out  if  conducted  systematically. 
.  .  .  Suggestions  vigorously  and  determin- 
ately  given,  even  when  there  is  Uttle  faith  in 
the  process,  have  often  a  marked  effect." 
Suffering  humanity  lifts  imploring  hands  to 


60  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

the  medical  profession,  saying,  **  Teach  us, 
lead  us  to  where  we  may  realize  the  abundant 
life!  Teach  us  the  necessity  of  self-mastery, 
how  to  emancipate  oiu'selves  from  fear,  how 
to  use  our  God-given  powers  to  keep  the 
temple  of  the  body  whole,  and  a  fit  place  for 
the  abode  of  the  Holy  Spirit!" 

Hoffman  says,  in  '*  Psychology  and  Com- 
mon Life":  "In  days  gone  by  disease  was 
treated  by  external  appUcations,  as  plasters, 
poultices,  cupping,  etc.  Later,  medicines 
were  administered  through  the  stomach,  then 
by  hypodermic  injections;  but  in  the  time 
to  come,  the  wise  physician  will  apply  treat- 
ment to  the  brain,  the  central  power  house  of 
the  body." 

If  the  brain  be  indeed  the  "power  house  of 
the  body,"  the  man  to  whom  it  belongs  should 
know  how  to  run  its  machinery,  how  to  turn 
the  power  off  or  on,  how  to  direct  its  energy 
throughout  the  body,  and  it  should  be  subject 
to  his  will  alone. 

One  need  not  fear  to  use  his  will  to  regain 
health,  since  everything  goes  to  prove  that  he 
would  be  acting  in  harmony  with  the  Divine 


The  Training  of  the  Will  61 

Will.  Our  Heavenly  Father  just  as  surely 
wants  us  to  be  well  as  to  be  good,  and  He  has 
set  His  seal  to  that  fact  in  the  tendency 
toward  recovery  upon  which  we  can  always 
count,  since  remedy  is  a  fundamental  law  of 
the  body. 

This  should  be  the  settled  conviction  of 
every  seeker  after  health. 

So  long  as  we  weakly  pray,  "if  it  be  Thy 
Will,"  we  shall  not  make  much  progress. 
Who  would  think  of  praying,  "Save  my  soul, 
if  it  be  Thy  will"?  Rather,  one  should  come 
with  confidence  to  the  throne  from  which 
flows  the  heahng  stream  and  say  at  all  times, 
"Thy  will  be  done  in  mel" 

To  beUeve  that  God  afflicts  us  with  sick- 
ness is  to  dishonor  Him  and  doubt  His  love 
and  mercy.  Health,  and  not  sickness,  is 
normal  and  wiU  foUow  when  knowledge  of 
aU  the  physical  and  mental  laws  of  health 
leads  to  obedience  to  them. 

So,  since  the  state  of  our  bodies  becomes  a 
matter  of  our  own  volition,  we  have  a  fresh 
incentive  to  cultivate  this  power. 

It  is  an  appeal  to  the  self-interest  of  every- 


62  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

one.  It  is  as  if  God  said  to  each  of  us,  *' Why 
will  ye  die?"  "Come,  now,  prove  me  here- 
with, if  I  will  not  pom*  you  out  a  blessing 
that  there  shall  not  be  room  enough  to  con- 
tain it."  He  invites  us  to  test  his  ojffers  by 
an  experimental  or  experiential  process  in 
which  each  may  find  health  of  body,  through 
confidence  in  the  law  written  in  our  mental 
and  bodily  constitution,  and  a  determined 
purpose  to  obey  them. 

But  let  him  remember  that  "He  that  wav- 
ereth  is  like  a  wave  of  the  sea,  driven  with  the 
wind  and  tossed;  let  not  that  man  think  that 
he  shall  receive  anything  of  the  Lord."  Em- 
phasis has  been  laid  upon  the  necessity  of  a 
well-trained  will  because  it  is  only  through 
this  power  that  the  inner  discipline  which 
results  in  self-control  can  be  carried  on.  Let 
no  man  who  flies  into  a  rage  at  the  least  prov- 
ocation, or  who  leads  a  life  of  self-indulgence, 
expect  to  attain  self-control  at  this  point.  Nor 
can  the  selfish,  fretful  woman  who  lacks  pa- 
tience and  consideration  for  others  get  very 
far  along  on  the  road  to  health  by  this  route. 

To  assume   and   maintain  mental  control 


The  Training  of  the  Will  63 

of  the  body  is  no  child's  play,  but  calls  for 
the  very  best  there  is  in  one  to  achieve 
success. 

Yet  every  step  toward  the  needful  self- 
mastery  is  a  reward  in  itseK,  since  it  is  right 
in  Une  with  our  upward  progress  in  the 
rehgious  life  and  brings  us  that  much  nearer 
the  goal. 


V 

THE  PLACE  OF  THE  WILL  IN 

MENTAL  HEALING 


CHAPTER  V 

THE  PLACE  OF  THE  WILL  IN 
MENTAL  HEALING 

THE  basis  of  all  mental  cures  is  the  es- 
tablishment of  one's  self-control,  or 
securing  the  mastery  of  both  mind  and  body 
either  by  the  help  of  a  teacher  or  healer,  or 
through  one's  own  efforts.  This  is  made  pos- 
sible through  the  operation  of  the  law  that 
mind  is  superior  to  and  can  control  matter 
to  an  extent  not  yet  fully  understood,  but 
certainly  the  matter  of  the  body. 

In  trying  to  understand  the  scientific  basis 
of  mental  heahng  we  are  greatly  helped  by 
the  researches  of  the  modern  psychologists, 
who  in  their  study  of  the  mind  have  made 
many  great  discoveries. 

Dr.  Boris  Sidis,  of  Harvard  University,  is 
one  of  the  greatest  authorities  in  our  land, 
and  speaks  from  experience,  as  he  has  been 
wonderfully  successful  in  restoring  people  to 
health  through  his  scientific  appeal  to  the 


68  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

mind.  As  a  result  of  his  own  experience  and 
observation,  he  annomiced  his  doctrine  of 
reserve  energy  as  follows:  "According  to  this 
doctrine,  eacli^  of  us  possesses^a^stored-up 
fund  of  ener^  of  which  jKeuia^iaL^jcdijiarily 
make  use,  but  which  we..cQu1d  he,  irm'nptl^  ^n 
usehabitually  to  our  great  advantage/' 

Dr.  Sidis  contends  that  it  is  by  arousing 
this  potential  energy  that  the  patients  whom 
he  treats  are  cured,  and  he  further  insists 
that  it  is  actually  possible  to  train  people  to 
draw  readily  and  helpfully  on  their  hidden 
energies. 

We  must  acknowledge  the  truth  of  this 
doctrine  when  we  consider  how  a  frail  mother 
will  endure  long  vigils  in  the  care  of  a  sick 
child,  or  how  sudden  disaster  will  often  call 
forth  powers  hitherto  unsuspected. 

There  are  well  authenticated  cases  of  bed- 
ridden invaUds  being  cured  by  a  sudden  access 
of  strength  which  enabled  them  to  get  out 
of  bed  and  to  a  place  of  safety  in  case  of  a  fire. 

The  writer  knows  definitely  of  a  woman 
badly  afflicted  with  a  form  of  hypochondria, 
imagining  herself  to  be  very  sick  and  help- 


Place  of  the  Will  in  Mental  Healing      69 

less.  One  morning  her  long-suffering  husband 
picked  her  up  out  of  her  bed,  ran  with  her  in 
his  arms  to  the  edge  of  a  lake  near  which 
she  lived,  and  threw  her  into  the  water. 
The  shock  and  her  indignation  so  roused  her 
latent  energy  that  she  scrambled  out  of  the 
water,  ran  back  to  the  house,  and  as  the 
story  goes,  was  well  ever  after. 

Such  instemc^e^s  andjiiany  others  whichcguld 
be  cited  jndicate  thaUbh^reserve  power  is 


really  in  the  will  which  can  be  brought  into 
action^by  hope  of  recovery  of  health  or  jn__ 
jgreat  ennergericies. 

Every  physician  knows  that  if  the  will  to 
be  well  is  presen1pwi|h_his-j;^ient  thejjatjje 
is  half  won.  But  closer  study  has  revealed 
the  fact  that  while  the  unaided  will  can  do 
much  toward  recovery,  especially  in  main- 
taining a  cheerful  and  hopeful  attitude  of 
mind,  much  more  can  be  accompUshed  by 
setting  to  work  the  agencies  of  health  placed 
within  oiu*  bodies  by  a  wise  Creator,  thus  be- 
coming ** workers  together  with  God."  Some 
writer  has  called  this  indirect  procedure  a 
"flank  movement." 


70  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

The  most  advanced  thought  of  to-day  is 
that  it  is  possible  for  us  to  control  our  bodies 
through  the  will  and  so  secure  and  maintain 
health.  It  is  beUeved  that  our  bodies  were 
intended  to  serve  us,  not  to  tyrannize  over  us; 
that  we  should  have  dominion  over  the  flesh 
and  not  be  its  victim.  Paul  said:  "I  keep 
my  body  under  that  I  may  bring  it  into  sub- 
jection" (meaning  subjection  to  his  will)  in 
order  that  he  might  make  it  the  instrument 
of  the  soul.  The  principle  that  we  should 
control  the  bodily  appetites  and  passions  is 
weU-nigh  universally  recognized.  Why  is  it 
not  just  as  true  that  we  should  be  able  to 
set  our  physical  houses  in  order  and  bring 
about  that  harmony  within  which  means 
health? 

Sickness  is  really  mutiny  in  the  life-boat, 
and  should  be  quelled  with  a  firm,  strong  will. 
We  know  that  our  eyes  and  tongue,  our 
limbs,  our  hands  and  feet,  are  the  servants  of 
the  mind  and  absolutely  under  the  control 
of  the  will,  but  it  is  equally  true  that  the  heart, 
the  lungs,  and  all  of  our  internal  organs  have 
just  as  definite  functions  to  perform.     In  a 


Place  of  the  Will  in  Mental  Healing      71 

state  of  health  these  functions  are  performed 
automatically,  but  if  sickness  occurs,  the  body 
may  be  restored  to  its  normal  conditions, 
and  all  its  organs  forced  through  the  exercise 
of  the  will  to  do  their  share  of  the  work  of 
maintaining  the  health  and  strength  of  the 
body. 

Heretofore  the  problem  has  been  to  know 
how  to  bring  the  will  to  bear  upon  the  body, 
and  it  has  taken  much  research  and  experi- 
ment to  find  a  solution,  yet  when  found  it  is 
so  simple  that  it  seems  strange  indeed  that 
it  so  long  eluded  the  earnest  seeker  after 
truth.  It  has  at  last  been  definitely  proved 
that  the  body  is  so  constituted  that  it  can  be 
brought  entirely  under  the  control  of  the  will 
through  the  brain  and  nervous  system,  and 
it  is  evident  to  those  who  have  looked  deeply 
into  the  subject  that  this  was  from  the  first 
the  design  of  the  Creator  dimly  understood 
for  ages,  but  now  fully  revealed.  This  form 
of  mind  cure  into  which  we  are  inquiring  is 
based  upon  well-known  physiological  princi- 
ples and  is  capable  of  scientific  proof. 

In  the  common  school  physiology   (Cali- 


72  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

fornia  State  Series)  under  a  section  concern- 
ing the  part  the  will  plays  in  bodily  acts,  it 
says:  "When  we  wish  to  move  any  part  of 
the  body,  the  first  thing  to  do  is  to  will  to  do 
it.  The  act  of  wiUing  to  do  anything  sends 
nerve  currents,  or  impulses,  along  nerve  fibers 
to  the  part  to  be  set  to  work."  Also:  "The 
nervous  system  may  be  compared  to  a  tele- 
graph system.  Nerve  impulses  (starting 
through  the  will  acting  upon  and  stimulating 
the  brain)  pass  along  the  nerve  fibers  as  elec- 
tric currents  travel  along  the  wires.  The 
ganghons  which  receive  and  send  impulses 
are  similar  to  the  offices  which  receive  and 
send  out  electric  currents." 

The  function  of  every  organ  in  the  body  is 
controlled  by  mental  impulses  or  nerve  cur- 
rents flowing  from  the  brain  and  transmitted 
over  the  nervous  system. 

We  are  not  conscious  of  these  nerve  currents 
which  are  constantly  passing  through  the 
body,  but  we  have  just  learned  that  it  is 
possible  to  consciously  start  a  new  nerve 
current  or  impulse  toward  any  part  of  the 
body  through  willing  to  do  so.    If  we  can  will 


Place  of  the  Will  in  Mental  Healing      73 

the  hands  to  work,  or  the  feet  to  walk,  is  it 
not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  we  can  will 
the  stomach  to  perform  its  function  of  diges- 
tion and,  by  so  doing,  send  a  nerve  current 
which  shall  give  it  power  to  obey?  These 
results  in  former  times  have  been  brought 
about  by  hypnotism  and  by  suggestion  to 
the  supposed  subjective  mind,  but  now  it  is 
known  that  the  brain  and  the  whole  nervous 
system  are  constituted  so  as  to  carry  out  the 
dictates  of  the  will. 

In  the  skull  are  the  three  divisions  of  brain 
matter:  the  cerebrum,  where  original  thought 
is  born  and  the  higher  mental  processes  car- 
ried on;  the  cerebellum,  the  reservoir  of  the 
special  senses  and  the  source  of  the  planning, 
driving  power  of  life;  and  at  the  base  of  the 
brain  are  the  nerve  centers  controlling  circu- 
lation, respiration,  the  heart's  action,  also 
the  centers  controlling  vomiting,  digesting, 
perspiring,  masticating,  and  swallowing,  as 
well  as  the  emotions  of  depression,  joy,  sor- 
row, and  weeping.  All  of  this  nerve  matter 
is  closely  connected  in  the  spinal  bulb,  which 
is    usually    called    the    medulla    oblongata. 


74  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  this  small  portion  of 
brain  matter  lies  the  control  of  the  body. 
In  a  state  of  health  this  control  is  automatic, 
but  where  the  medulla  abdicates  the  throne, 
anarchy,  as  in  some  form  of  illness,  results. 
Such  ailments  as  shaking  palsy  or  St.  Vitus 
dance  are  famiUar  illustrations  of  this  lack 
of  control.  One  writer  compares  the  medulla 
and  the  sympathetic  nervous  system  to  a 
horse  and  rider:  the  horse  does  all  the  going, 
but  the  rider  guides  the  horse.  If  the  rider 
drops  the  reins,  the  horse  runs  away.  Just 
so,  the  nerves  do  the  work  but  the  nerve 
centers  in  the  medulla  hold  the  reins  and 
keep  the  nerves  steadily  at  their  tasks. 

Sometimes  the  upper  brain  is  called  the 
Superintendent  of  the  body,  which  gives 
commands  to  the  medulla  as  to  a  foreman, 
which  passes  on  the  orders  to  the  nerves, 
which  as  faithful  workmen  execute  the  higher 
will.  Here,  then,  we  have  in  a  few  words  the 
physiological  basis  for  the  appUcation  of  the 
will  to  the  body.  The  exact  way  in  which  it 
acts  is  clearly  stated  by  William  Hanna 
Thompson,  M.D.,  in  his  great  work,  *' Brain 


Place  of  the  Will  in  Mental  Healing      75 

and  Personality,"  as  follows:  *'The  human 
will  is  a  specific  brain  stimulus  more  potent 
than  any  other.  It  excites  the  higher  nerve 
centers  in  the  gray  matter  of  the  brain,  and 
they  in  tmn  control  the  working  of  all  the 
lower  nerve  centers  in  the  spinal  nervous  sys- 
tem. The  medulla  takes  the  orders  and  exe- 
cutes them  through  the  gangUa  along  the  spine 
and  the  solar  plexus.  Whole  tracts  of  nerve 
fibers  descend  from  the  brain,  coursing  along 
the  nervous  strands  of  the  cord  till  each  fiber 
ends  at  but  not  in  a  spinal  nerve  cell.  Forth- 
with that  nerve  fiber  rules  the  spinal  nerve 
absolutely  by  directing  how  it  is  to  act,  and 
do  this  or  that  according  to  commands  coming 
from  above."  That  is,  if  we  wish  to  move  or 
to  affect  any  part  of  the  body  we  must  will 
that  the  special  effect  be  produced.  The 
command  will  then  be  carried  as  a  message 
by  the  faithful  servitors  and  obeyed  by  the 
lower  brain  and  nerves.  It  is  in  this  way 
every  habit  in  life  is  formed. 

Thus,  by  the  training  of  the  nervous  sys- 
tem, the  child  learns  to  walk  and  to  talk. 
Thus  we  train  the  hands  to  knit,  to  play 


76  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

the  piano,  to  write,  and  do  all  kinds  of  useful 
work.  At  first  so  difficult,  these  processes 
soon  become  automatic  or,  as  we  say,  they 
become  second  nature  and,  being  carried  on 
by  the  basal  ganglia,  we  do  not  have  to  con- 
sciously direct  them  by  the  will. 

By  just  the  same  process  we  can  train  the 
nerve  centers  controlling  the  internal  organs 
of  our  bodies,  and  so  form  habits  of  health. 
The  great  difficulty  is  that  in  ignorance  of 
our  powers  most  of  us,  sooner  or  later,  form 
the  very  bad  habit  of  being  sick,  and,  as  in 
everything  else  in  life,  it  is  much  harder  to 
break  a  bad  habit  than  to  form  a  good  one. 
But  the  young  can  be  taught  to  form  good 
habits  of  health  through  self-control,  and  the 
mature  can  break  the  bondage  of  illness  when 
they  realize  that  the  remedy  is  within  them- 
selves, if  they  are  willing  to  make  the  effort. 
But  here  as  elsewhere  we  must  pay  the 
price.  No  great  boon  is  attained  without 
adequate  search,  and  concentration  upon  the 
desired  object  is  necessary.  God  says  of 
Himself,  "In  the  day  that  thou  seekest  me 
with  thine  whole  heart,  I  will  be  found  of 


Place  of  the  Will  in  Mental  Healing      77 

thee";  and  in  this  search  for  health  the  same 
conditions  prevail  as  in  seeking  for  spiritual 
blessings. 

Hear  what  a  College  President  says  about 
mental  concentration:  "Mental  concentra- 
tion is  thinking  to  a  point.  Its  supports  are 
enthusiasm,  interest,  desire  for  achievement, 
health,  strength  of  will.  Mental  concentra- 
tion needs  all  natural  buttresses,  for  the  mind 
at  every  stage  likes  to  wander.  The  will, 
however,  is  to  nail  the  mind  down  close  and 
hard  to  its  thought.  The  heart  is  to  prompt 
the  mind  to  rejoice  in  definiteness  and  fixed- 
ness, even  if  it  be  hard  for  a  time.  The  con- 
science is  to  be  convinced  that  only  by  close 
devotion  can  worthy  results  be  secured. 
Health  is  to  be  amply  sufficient  to  fill  up  all 
the  exhaustions  made  by  long  continued  in- 
tellectual processes.  In  such  a  concentra- 
tion the  mind  finds  forces  of  which  it  had  not 
been  conscious.  (Here  we  find  again  the  doc- 
trine of  reserve  energy.)  It  seems  often  to 
create  new  forces.  It  raises  itself  to  the  nth 
degree  of  power;  it  gets  its  second  wind;  its 
slow  moving  feet  become  wings;  it  runs  with 


78  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

the  chariots,  not  with  the  footmen;  and  it 
does  not  become  weary.  The  spirit  of  the 
very  gods  seems  to  fill  its  being;  its  sight  be- 
comes insight;  it  calls  out  the  intellectual 
reserves;  it  discovers  the  truth  of  the  re- 
mark of  Wilham  James  that  each  of  us  has 
resources  of  which  he  does  not  dream." 

When  such  powers  can  be  called  out  by  the 
will,  should  we  not  cultivate  and  strengthen 
it  and  learn  to  use  it  for  our  mental  and 
physical  benefit.^  When  through  this  power 
one  is  able  to  break  the  bondage  of  disease 
and  steps  out  once  more  into  the  glad  free- 
dom of  health,  he  is  better  able  to  understand 
the  full  meaning  of  Christ's  questions  to  the 
sick  of  His  day :  "  Wilt  thou  be  made  whole.^  " 
*' What  wilt  thou  that  I  should  do  unto  thee?" 
and  also  His  blessed  assurance,  "Be  it  unto 
thee  even  as  thou  wilt." 


VI 

THE  EDUCATION  OF  THE 
LOWER  BRAIN 


CHAPTER  VI 
THE  EDUCATION  OF  THE  LOWER  BRAIN 

FROM  the  standpoint  of  the  physiologist 
the  matter  of  mental  control  of  the  body 
is  really  dependent  upon  the  education  of  the 
lower  brain. 

During  the  past  history  of  the  race,  atten- 
tion has  been  given  almost  exclusively  to  the 
development  of  the  intellectual  and  moral 
powers  of  the  upper  brain.  It  is  said  that  the 
surface  of  the  brain  of  a  child  at  birth  is  per- 
fectly smooth,  but  that  as  he  learns  to  think 
and  study,  the  organ  of  thought  becomes 
creased  and  wrinkled  and  that  later  in  life 
deep  convolutions  are  formed  as  a  result  of 
his  mental  operations  in  forming  and  deepen- 
ing brain  paths  along  which  the  thought 
habitually  passes. 

We  are  told  that  brain  cells  are  trained  by 
use;  that  thinking  causes  a  flow  of  blood  to 
the  special  brain  area  employed;  that  the 
education  of  the  mind  is  registered  in  the 


82  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

brain  tissue,  and  it  is  in  this  way  that  knowl- 
edge becomes  a  permanent  acquisition. 

Memory  is  not  a  matter  of  the  mind  alone, 
but  in  this  existence  at  least  is  dependent 
upon  the  integrity  of  the  brain  cells. 

This  tendency  of  all  mental  states  first  to 
excite  the  brain,  and  then  to  leave  a  lasting 
impression  upon  its  sensitive  structure,  ex- 
plains why  as  life  proceeds  one  tends  to  become 
accustomed  to  think  along  habitual  fines. 

The  mind,  at  first  sensitive  and  plastic, 
graduaUy  faUs  into  the  grooves  which  the 
thinking  has  made  in  the  brain.  The  brain 
becomes  set;  it  grows  increasingly  difiicult  to 
take  up  new  subjects  of  thought  or  study, 
until  finaUy  there  comes  a  time  when  the  man 
thinks  as  he  must  and  not  as  he  wiU,  because 
his  brain  is  no  longer  responsive  to  new 
impressions. 

This  theory  of  brain  building  throws 
scientific  Ught  upon  the  scriptural  state- 
ment, "As  a  man  thinketh  in  his  heart,  so 
is  he,"  and  it  is  at  the  same  time  a  source  of 
encouragement  and  a  wholesome  warning. 

It  points  out  the  physical  foundation  of 


The  Education  of  the  Lower  Brain       83 

permanence  in  character,  showing  the  great 
danger  of  wrong  thinking  and  hving  in  early 
life,  lest  there  come  a  time  when  it  will  be 
difficult  if  not  impossible  to  modify  brain 
structure  and  so  change  the  current  of  the 
thinking.  At  the  same  time  it  gives  great 
hope  to  everyone  with  higher  aspirations  to 
know  that  he  is  adding  daily  to  his  mental 
and  spiritual  resources;  that  these  are  an 
enduring  possession,  because  wrought  into  his 
brain  structure,  and  ready  at  any  moment  to 
answer  his  need.  In  other  words,  we  build 
not  only  our  characters  but  also  our  brains, 
and  are  responsible  for  both. 

But  the  cerebrum  is  not  the  only  portion 
of  brain  matter  capable  of  being  educated. 
The  whole  nervous  system  is  simply  an  ex- 
tension of  the  brain  substance  inclosed  within 
the  skull,  and  is  under  the  control  of  the 
superior  cells  of  the  cerebrum. 

It  is  known  that  but  one  half  of  the  brain 
has  to  do  with  conscious  mental  processes, 
while  the  other  half  seems  to  be  concerned 
alone  with  motor  control  of  the  body.  This 
plainly  suggests  that  the  functions  of  one  half 


84  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

of  the  brain  are  similar  to  those  of  the  motor 
nervous  system  throughout  the  body  and  of 
Uke  substance  and  power. 

It  is  now  held  that  intelligence  pervades 
the  whole  nervous  system,  and  that  it  is  this 
mind  of  the  body  which  responds  to  the  stimuli 
from  the  higher  nerve  centers,  obeys  the  higher 
will  as  the  servant  obeys  the  master  and  so 
brings  the  body  into  subjection. 

It  seems  more  intelUgible  to  think  of  this 
diffused  mental  force  as  being  an  exhibition 
of  brain  activity  in  the  nerves  than  to  caU 
it  the  subjective,  unconscious,  or  subconscious 
mind. 

Indeed,  recent  psychology  teaches  that 
man  has  but  one  mind,  having  many  latent 
possibiUties.  The  most  neglected  portion  is 
the  lower  brain,  or  medulla  oblongata,  some- 
times called  the  primitive  brain,  in  which  are 
found  the  centers  controlling  the  automatic 
processes  of  the  body  and  also  the  seat  of  the 
emotions  and  instincts.  It  is  the  seat  of  pro- 
creation and  the  intuitions  and  other  instincts 
and  emotions,  and  in  some  ways  links  us  with 
the  divine  more  closely  than  any  other  part  of 


The  Education  of  the  Lower  Brain       85 

our  physical  being.  The  control  of  these 
propensities  is  one  of  the  highest  duties  of 
life,  and  when  attained  most  clearly  dis- 
tinguishes man  from  the  brute  creation. 

For  ages  the  operation  of  this  portion  of 
brain  matter  has  been  considered  involun- 
tary, and  the  thinking  of  the  upper  brain  has 
more  often  been  a  hindrance  than  a  help  to 
its  humbler  subordinate.  But  it  is  now  be- 
lieved that  this  brain,  too,  can  be  educated, 
and  by  the  same  teacher,  the  will.  One  can- 
not read  Dr.  W.  B.  Carpenter's  book  on 
''Mental  Physiology,"  and  Dr.  Thompson's 
*' Brain  and  Personality"  without  reaUzing 
that  the  will  is  the  man,  and  upon  its  attitude 
and  exercise  depends  his  present  and  future 
destiny. 

As  the  will  spurs  the  student  to  intellectual 
effort,  and  stimulates  and  builds  the  upper 
brain  till  it  becomes  the  responsive  instru- 
ment of  his  thought,  so  the  same  power  can 
be  used  to  stimulate  and  educate  the  nerve 
centers  in  the  lower  brain  till  they  too  can  be 
trained  to  perform  their  functions  with  per- 
fect regularity  and  efficiency. 


86  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

Dr.  Saleeby  says:  "To  educate  the  bowel 
is  really  to  educate  the  lower  brain,  which  is 
the  only  educational  route  to  the  upper 
brain." 

This  is  equally  true  of  every  other  organ 
and  function  under  the  control  of  the  lower 
brain.  In  stimulating  the  action  of  the  stom- 
ach through  the  will,  we  are  really  educating 
the  center  of  digestion  in  the  medulla.  In 
quieting  and  calming  the  heart's  action  by 
controlling  our  agitation,  and  in  opening  the 
arteries  by  relaxation  and  vigorous  com- 
mands, we  are  certainly  training  the  centers 
of  circulation  in  the  same  portion  of  brain 
matter.  Thus  can  one  cultivate  the  power 
of  deep  breathing  and  can  also  control 
perspiration  by  forcing  the  pores  to  open  or 
close  at  will.  To  put  it  simply,  this  form  of 
mental  therapy  is  simply  stimulating  nerve 
action  by  the  will,  instead  of  by  tonics, 
manual  or  mechanical  means,  or  by  electricity. 

It  seems  clear  that  the  road  to  health  by 
mental  means  is  through  teaching  the  brain 
centers,  whose  duty  it  is  to  control  the  body, 
to  respond  to  the  stimulus  from  the  cerebrum, 


The  Education  of  the  Lower  Brain       87 

to  take  its  orders,  and  to  transmit  them  to 
their  destination. 

The  power  which  alone  can  initiate  and 
carry  forth  this  work  is  the  will  acting  upon 
the  appropriate  brain  cells.  So  to  use  the 
will  is  to  develop  a  new  faculty,  but  why 
need  we  doubt  its  possibility  when  psycholo- 
gists tell  us  that  man  is  as  yet  an  imperfectly 
evolved  creature? 

Professor  Halleck  predicts  that  the  man 
of  the  future  may  make  fuller  use  of  all  his 
powers  and  be  as  superior  to  his  present  self 
as  the  locomotive  is  to  the  stage  coach. 


VII 

THE  PHYSIOLOGICAL  BASIS  OF 
WILL  CURE 


CHAPTER  VII 
THE  PHYSIOLOGICAL  BASIS  OF  WILL  CURE 

A  RECENT  paper  published  a  statement 
from  Professor  Edgar  Lucien  Larkin  that 
there  are  now  10,000,000  people  in  the  United 
States  depending  upon  mental  means  for 
health.  It  is  also  true  that  there  is  a  con- 
stantly growing  number  of  physicians,  entirely 
aside  from  the  practitioners  of  Christian 
Science,  the  Immanuel  Movement,  and  simi- 
lar bodies,  who  find  in  the  use  of  mental 
treatment  a  most  efficacious  aid  in  curing 
mental  and  nervous  ailments.  Some  of  them 
take  the  position  that  mental  treatment  can 
be  combined  with  material  remedies  or  other 
agencies.  Others,  as  Professor  Paul  Dubois, 
M.D.,  began  by  using  a  variety  of  physical 
means,  but  finally  became  so  convinced  of 
the  superior  value  of  his  method  of  treat- 
ing by  persuasion  or  reeducation  that,  one 
by  one,  he  dropped  all  medication,  mas- 
sage, water  cure,  even  hygienic  measures,  as 


92  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

too  slow  in  their  action.  He  then  abandoned 
electricity  as  worse  than  useless  and  finally 
used  nothing  but  quiet,  the  rest  cure,  and  a 
generous  diet,  with  the  mental  means,  thus 
really  simply  letting  nature  do  the  work, 
with  the  aid  of  the  mind.  He  rejects  hyp- 
notism and  suggestion  and,  instead,  appeals 
to  the  reason  and  the  higher  nature. 

He  encourages  the  patient  to  beUeve  that 
he  can  be  cured.  He  thus  induces  a  hopeful, 
restful  state  of  mind,  and  by  rousing  the  will 
power  in  the  patient  to  stay  by  the  treat- 
ment, he  performs  wonderful  cures.  Some 
are  cured  by  a  single  conversation,  many  in  a 
few  days;  some  require  weeks,  according  to 
the  degree  of  impressionabiUty.  But  it  is  a 
very  bad  case,  really  such  as  should  be  treated 
in  an  insane  hospital,  which  will  not  yield. 
He  classes  among  psychic  or  nervous  diseases 
dyspepsia  in  all  its  forms,  constipation, 
diarrhoea,  enteritis,  enteroptosis,  neuralgia, 
palpitation  of  the  heart,  pelvic  troubles, 
insomnia,  melanchoUa,  neurasthenia  with  all 
its  variations,  all  hysterias,  and  finds  them 
all  amenable  to  his  treatment. 


Physiological  Bcisis  of  Will  Cure        93 

Professor  John  Quackenbos,  for  twenty 
years  Professor  of  Psychology  in  Columbia 
University,  and  afterwards  practicing  physi- 
cian in  New  York  City,  in  his  book  *' Hypnotic 
Therapeutics,"  says  he  has  treated  seven  thou- 
sand cases  by  hypnotic  suggestion  with  almost 
miiform  success.  The  range  and  variety  of 
the  ailments  is  very  extensive.  Among  them 
are  criminal  tendencies  and  moral  perver- 
sions, epilepsy,  sciatica,  neuritis,  locomotor 
ataxia,  diabetes,  tuberculosis,  cancer,  and 
others  too  nmnerous  to  mention.  While  he 
does  not  claim  to  be  able  to  cure  organic 
diseases  in  an  advanced  stage,  where  a  great 
deal  of  tissue  has  been  destroyed,  he  says 
that  the  number  of  diseases  known  to  be 
amenable  to  this  form  of  mental  treatment 
is  constantly  growing,  and  that  he  sees  no 
reason  why  organic  diseases  cannot  be  aborted 
if  taken  in  time.  In  all  these  varied  modes 
of  mental  treatment,  the  effort  is  to  en- 
courage the  patient  to  beUeve  in  the  possi- 
bihty  of  cure,  to  call  forth  his  latent  powers, 
by  tapping  the  lower  levels  of  reserve  energy. 
In  other  words,  to  reestabUsh  the  man  in 


94  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

self-control,  by  banishing  anxiety,  thus  bring- 
ing about  harmonious  action  of  the  organic 
functions. 

Since  it  is  a  mental  power  which  controls 
the  body,  it  is  a  prime  essential  that  the  mind 
should  be  able  to  control  itself.  We  dispute 
the  claim  made  by  some  teachers  that  all 
disease  is  caused  by  the  mind,  since  body  and 
mind  are  so  intimately  related  that  it  is 
often  impossible  to  tell  which  is  cause  and 
which  effect.  But  we  affirm  that  the  mind 
is  the  seat  of  tne  cm^ative  power,  and  if  one 
expects  to  be  cured  by  mental  means,  the 
mind  itself  must  be  cured  first  —  at  least,  it 
must  use  its  latent  power. 

It  is  impossible  to  cure  a  sick  hpfJy  ini%  (i 
sick  mind,  hence  one  should  look  well  to  the 
state  of  his  mind  before  expecting  results 
along  this  line.  Up  to  the  present  time  the 
appeal  of  the  mental  therapeutist  has  been 
made  to  the  mind  alone  without  knowing 
exactly  what  was  the  point  of  apphcation  of 
the  mental  stimulus,  nor  how  the  mind 
acted  upon  the  body  to  bring  about  a  har- 
monious adjustment. 


Physiological  Basis  of  Will  Cure         95 

Dr.  Morton  Prince,  professor  of  nervous 
diseases  in  Tuft's  Medical  College,  writes  on 
this  point:  ** Psychotherapy  simply  makes 
use  of  the  normal  mechanism  of  the  mind 
and  body,  of  the  physiological  machinery,  to 
bring  about  a  restitution  of  the  disordered 
functions  and  restore  the  individual  to  health. 
Thus,  suggestion  can  only  make  use  of  ma- 
chinery already  provided;  it  cannot  create 
anything  anew  or  do  anything  that  is  not  in 
accord  with  the  laws  of  the  nervous  system. 
As  a  method,  psychotherapy  is  comparable 
in  every  way  to  what  is  now  known  as  physi- 
ological therapeutics  which  has  taken  such 
an  important  place  in  internal  medicine." 
Again  he  adds:  **A11  this  therapeutic  pro- 
cedure, of  course,  means  the  education  or, 
perhaps  better,  the  reeducation  of  the  pa- 
tient." The  effort  of  the  author  is  to  teach 
the  patient  how  to  reeducate  himself. 

In  the  introduction  to  his  last  book,  "The 
Law  of  Mental  Medicine,"  Dr.  Thomson  Jay 
Hudson  wrote  as  follows  of  the  healing  power 
within  the  mind,  as  energized,  and  used 
through  faith:   "Our  aim  should  be  to  learn 


96  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

something  of  the  machinery  through  which 
this  potent  energy  performs  its  work.  It  is 
obvious  that  if  we  had  this  knowledge,  we 
may  proximately  know  something  of  the 
modus  operandi  by  which  the  mind  acts  upon 
the  body  in  health  and  in  the  cure  of  disease. 
It  follows  that  such  knowledge  will  enable  us 
to  direct  the  heaUng  energy  more  inteUi- 
gently  and  presumably  more  effectively."  He 
says  further:  "If  I  can  succeed  in  discovering 
the  fundamental  psychological  law  pertaining 
to  the  control  of  the  healing  power  resident  in 
every  man's  mental  organism  and  in  pointing 
out  the  physical  mechanism  through  which 
that  power  is  exerted,  I  may  hope  to  be  able 
to  indicate  the  most  effective  methods  of 
practicing  the  healing  art  without  the  use  of 
material  remedies." 

Mr.  Henry  Wood,  one  of  the  ablest  of  the 
New  Thought  writers,  has  long  studied  on 
these  Unes.  In  one  of  the  early  editions  of  his 
book  "Studies  in  the  Thought  World,"  pub- 
Ushed  in  1896,  he  made  a  prophecy  which 
now  seems  almost  startUng,  when  he  said: 
*'In  the  early  years  of  the  20th  Century  this 


Physiological  Basis  of  Will  Cure         97 

problem  will  be  worked  out,  and  we  shall 
have  a  formula  which  will  exactly  state  the 
method  of  procedure  by  which  we  shall  be 
able  to  heal  ourselves  and  others."  We  fully 
beheve  that  this  problem  has  indeed  been 
worked  out,  and  that  the  underlying  psycho- 
logical principle  for  which  the  scientists  have 
been  searching  so  long  is  to  be  found  in  forcing 
the  bodily  condition  to  conform  to  the  will, 
through  controUing  and  directing  the  life 
forces  within.  The  first  mental  requisite  is 
hope,  for  in  this,  as  in  the  spiritual  life,  "we 
are  saved  by  hope."  Next,  what  Dr.  Sadler 
calls  a  psychological  faith,  or  a  behef  in  the 
possibiUty  of  ciu'e;  last,  and  most  important 
of  all,  the  use  of  the  will,  which  is  faith  in 
action,  to  accompUsh  the  desired  end.  We 
beheve  these  elements  are  present  in  every 
genuine  case  of  heahng,  even  though  the 
person  healed  may  not  have  fully  realized  it 
himself. 

The  will,  as  emphasized  in  a  previous 
chapter,  is  the  real  energizing  principle  which, 
acting  upon  the  brain,  is  conamunicated  to 
the  nervous  system  through  the  nerve  centers 


98  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

at  the  base  of  the  brain  and  restores  health 
by  bringing  about  harmonious  and  vigorous 
action  of  the  functions  of  the  bodily  organs. 

Professor  Olston,  in  "Mind  Power  and  its 
Privileges,"  says:  "We  know  that  we  can 
instruct  the  subjective  mind  to  act  upon  an 
organ,  and  inhibit  or  increase  its  function. 
We  can  cause  it  to  supply  blood  to  a  part 
and  thereby  nourish  it  and  eliminate  waste 
products."  Skeptical  physicians  agree,  if  this 
be  true,  but  httle  more  is  needed  to  cure 
disease.  Again  he  says:  ''It  is  the  function 
of  the  medulla  and  spinal  cord  to  attend  to 
the  needs  of  the  cells  and  the  various  organs 
of  the  body.  Though  this  is  done  automati- 
cally, it  does  not  signify  that  the  will  has  no 
power  over  those  functions."  We  have  al- 
ready learned  through  the  investigations  and 
conclusions  of  medical  science  that  the  will 
is  a  great  brain  stimulus  and  has  power,  when 
exerted,  over  the  bodily  functions  and  that 
the  nervous  system  will  respond  and  cany- 
out  the  commands  coming  from  the  brain. 
Let  us  see  what  our  great  authority,  William 
Hanna  Thompson,  says  in  discussing  the  evo- 


Physiological  Bdsis  of  Will  Cure        99 

lution  of  the  nervous  system.  **At  the  top 
of  the  spinal  cord,  as  it  enters  the  skull,  is 
developed  the  final  supreme  center  of  the  en- 
tire system  —  that  fit  and  responsible  ruler 
of  the  whole  wonderful  and  beautifully  regu- 
lated spinal  mechanism  —  that  center  in  which 
a  small  injury  would  threaten  life  more  than 
it  would  in  the  brain,  as  it  may  cause  instant 
death,  for  the  medulla  holds  the  reins  of  the 
pulse  and  of  the  breath  in  its  hands,  while  at 
the  same  time  it  acts  as  the  intermediary 
between  the  various  regions  of  the  brain 
above  and  those  of  the  spinal  cord  beneath," 
that  is,  receiving  and  transmitting  conamands, 
as  pointed  out  in  the  chapter  on  the  place  of 
the  will  in  Mental  HeaUng. 

Again  he  says:  "The  medulla  oblongata 
sends  a  bundle  of  nerve  fibers  to  the  heart 
called  the  heart  accelerators,  which  make  it 
beat  faster,  while  it  also  supplies  an  important 
strand  of  nerves  which  bridle  the  heart  and 
make  it  beat  slowly  and  deUberately.  In  the 
medulla  there  is  the  center  governing  the 
entire  and  most  extensive  system  of  special 
nerves  which   ramify   on   the   coats   of  the 


100  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

arteries  and  whose  business  it  is  to  regulate 
the  caUber  of  the  arteries  so  that  their  di- 
ameter becomes  large  or  small  according  to 
whether  the  part  which  the  arteries  supply 
needs  more  or  less  blood."  In  this  statement 
of  nervous  control  of  the  body  we  have  in  a 
nutshell  the  physical  mechanism  of  mental 
cures  for  which  Dr.  Hudson  sought  so  ear- 
nestly. He  passed  away  with  the  goal  just 
in  sight,  in  1902,  for  Dr.  William  Hanna 
Thompson's  book,  "Brain  and  PersonaUty," 
was  pubUshed  the  same  year. 

Dr.  Thompson  demonstrated  theoretically, 
and  we  are  proving  practically,  that  cures  are 
indeed  brought  about  through  understanding 
the  relations  of  the  brain  and  the  nervous 
system  to  the  rest  of  the  body,  and  controlhng 
its  functions,  either  through  suggestions  or 
positive  commands  transmitted  by  way  of 
the  medulla  and  the  sympathetic  nervous 
system  to  every  organ  and  cell  of  the  body. 

Professor  Hofifman,  writing  in  his  book, 
"Psychology  and  Common  Life,"  confirms 
our  theory.  He  says:  "The  brain  is  com- 
posed of  the  cerebriun,  cerebellum,  and  the 


Physiological  Basis  of  Will  Cure       101 

medulla  oblongata.  If  the  cerebrum  be  re- 
moved, the  functions  essential  to  the  main- 
tenance of  life,  such  as  breathing,  eating, 
digestion,  and  the  like,  may  all  go  on  uninter- 
rupted, for  they  are  attended  to  by  the  medulla 
oblongata.  But  there  will  be  no  intellectual 
guidance  or  vohtional  control." 

All  this  testimony  is  to  the  effect  that  the 
fore  brain  is  the  organ  through  which  the  will 
stimulates  the  nervous  system  to  do  its  work, 
either  in  voluntary  actions  or  in  conamuni- 
cating  impulses  to  the  bodily  organs  to  per- 
form their  work. 

Dr.  A.  T.  Schofield,  another  high  authority 
on  mental  therapeutics,  concurs  in  this  view 
as  follows:  "The  half  involuntary  organs  are 
good  servants,  but  very  bad  masters,  and 
should  early  be  trained  to  subserviency.  If 
fairly  healthy,  anyone  with  a  resolute  will 
may  easily  teach  them." 

Referring  again  to  our  California  State  Series 
physiology,  we  learn  that  the  heart  is  made 
to  beat  faster  and  stronger  by  the  nerve  cur- 
rents that  it  receives  through  the  sympa- 
thetic nerves.    Since  on  another  page  it  says 


ioi  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

that  we  may  consciously  send  an  impulse  or 
nerve  current  by  willing  to  do  so,  does  it 
not  follow  that  we  can  make  the  will  felt 
in  every  organ,  every  nerve  and  tissue,  even 
to  the  minutest  cell,  every  one  of  which 
is  suppUed  with  its  tiny  portion  of  nerve 
matter? 

Again,  with  regard  to  the  control  of  the 
circulation,  the  same  author  says:  "When 
the  muscle  fibers  of  the  arteries  relax  they 
lengthen;  the  artery  becomes  wider,  and  more 
blood  flows  through  it.  Now,  these  muscle 
fibers  are  under  the  control  of  the  sym- 
pathetic nerves,  which  therefore  regulate 
the  amount  of  blood  that  goes  to  every 
organ." 

Here,  then,  we  have  not  only  the  physical 
mechanism  through  which  to  work,  but  we 
have  the  healing  stream  itself  in  the  life 
blood  which  courses  constantly  through  the 
veins  and  arteries,  carrying  the  faithful  sol- 
diers, the  white  corpuscles,  whose  duty  it  is 
to  fight  for  us,  in  destroying  disease  germs, 
bearing  also  the  red  corpuscles  laden  with 
oxygen  taken  in  through  the  lungs.     The 


Physiological  Basis  of  Will  Cure       103 

plasma,  or  liquid  part  of  the  blood,  contains 
the  nourishing  materials  for  the  tissues  ob- 
tained from  the  food  by  digestion.  The 
plasma  in  the  veins  also  takes  up  the  waste 
matter  from  the  tissues  on  their  way  out  of 
the  body. 

Thousands  of  years  ago  Moses  said:  "The 
blood  is  the  life,"  while  a  modem  scientist 
states  the  same  fact  in  these  words:  "Circu- 
lation is  the  most  important  agency  in  the 
cure  of  all  bodily  ills.  It  is  the  basis  of  cure 
and  health."  In  possessing  this  exact  knowl- 
edge of  the  way  in  which  we  may  secure 
health  through  knowing  how  to  control  the 
nervous  system  and,  through  that,  the  circu- 
lation of  the  blood,  we  are  debtors  to  those 
who  have  sought  so  earnestly  for  it,  and  are 
tndy  "the  heirs  of  all  the  ages." 

The  Spirit  of  Truth  has  been  using  both 
science  and  human  suffering  to  guide  humanity 
into  all  truth,  and  we  are  highly  favored  in 
receiving  this  rich  heritage  of  physical  heal- 
ing. From  this  vantage  ground  of  health  and 
reaUzed  power  we  may  look  forward  to  still 
greater  conquests,  when  by  the  power  of  the 


104  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

mind  under  the  leadership  of  the  Master 
Mind,  the  whole  world  may  be  brought  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  truth  of  our  divine  origin 
and  our  high  destiny  as  the  offspring  of  the 
Infinite. 


VIII 

THE  RISE  AND  PROGRESS  OF 
MENTAL  HEALING 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE  RISE  AND  PROGRESS  OF 
MENTAL  HEALING 

IT  may  not  be  unprofitable  to  sketch 
briefly  the  rise  and  progress  of  mental 
healing  in  modem  times. 

The  first  to  make  use  of  the  power  of  the 
mind  over  the  body  was  Mesmer,  who,  about 
two  hundred  years  ago,  cured  many  by  making 
passes  over  them  with  his  hands.  He  beheved 
that  an  invisible  fluid  passed  from  him  to 
the  patient.  His  knowledge  of  psychology 
was  Umited,  and  he  neither  understood  nor 
explained  the  part  the  mind  of  the  patient 
played  in  the  cure. 

Beginning  with  mesmerism,  the  knowledge 
of  the  relation  of  the  mind  to  the  body  in 
curing  disease  and  the  methods  of  treatment 
have  passed  by  successive  gradations  through 
hypnotism,  suggestion  in  the  hypnoidal  state, 
that  is,  just  preceding  a  state  of  genius  hyp- 
nosis as  practiced  by  Morton  Prince  and  Boris 


108  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

Sidis,  to  suggestion  in  a  fully  conscious  state 
and  finally  persuasion  or  reeducation  as  used 
most  successfully  by  Prof.  Paul  Dubois. 

As  these  steps  in  the  understanding  of  the 
human  mind  have  been  made,  the  mystery 
connected  with  the  subject  has  been  gradually 
eUminated.  But  we  of  the  favored  present 
day  have  come  into  a  still  fuller  light.  These 
early  explorers  into  the  realm  of  mind  have 
builded  better  than  they  knew,  and  we  are 
entering  into  their  labors. 

All  modem  writers  on  this  subject  have 
posited  the  heaUng  power  in  the  subjective 
or  unconscious  mind  which  they  describe  as 
an  intelligence  which  directs  all  the  lower 
intelligences  resident  in  all  parts  of  the  body, 
and  which  controls  all  the  organs  and  directs 
their  functioning,  even  down  to  the  minute 
cells  which  make  up  their  structure.  All 
mental  healers  make  their  appeal  to  that 
inner  mind  which  some  writers  believe  to  be 
separate  from,  and  others  think  to  be  only  a 
different  function  of,  the  one  mind  of  man. 
The  latest  science  declares  that  there  is  this 
central  intelligence,  which  presides  over  the 


Rise  and  Progress  of  Mental  Healing    109 

body,  which  is  sleepless,  ever  alert  for  its 
welfare,  which  automatically  controls  the 
vital  processes,  not  only  keeping  the  organs 
at  their  appointed  tasks,  but  superintending 
the  work  of  repair,  through  directing  the  life 
forces  in  the  body  even  down  to  the  minutest 
detail. 

Dr.  Schofield,  in  his  book  on  "Unconscious 
Therapeutics,"  identijSes  this  inteUigence  with 
the  vis  medicatrix  naturae,  or  the  heaHng 
power  of  nature.  This  power,  he  says,  is  the 
manifestation  of  the  action  of  the  unconscious 
mind  in  the  tissues  and  organs  of  the  body. 
This  power,  which  some  call  simply  Nature,  is 
active  constantly  in  all  cures.  It  is  shown  in 
the  heaHng  of  cuts  and  sores,  the  knitting  of 
a  broken  bone,  and  in  niunerous  processes 
which  go  on  in  the  body  without  any  outside 
help  or  interference.  We  call  this  natural, 
but  as  Augustine  said  centuries  ago:  '* Nature 
is  the  will  of  God,"  and  another  ancient 
worthy  truly  said:  "Nature  is  the  healer  of 
our  diseases." 

It  is  because  this  unconscious  mind  is  so 
hidden  and  elusive  that  it  is  difficult  for  the 


110  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

common  man  to  realize  and  make  use  of  its 
powers. 

Psychotherapy,  or  soul  cure,  as  practiced 
by  the  Inamanuel  healers,  recognizes  this 
teaching  of  science,  and  in  their  treatment  the 
suggestion  of  cure  is  always  made  to  this 
unconscious  mind.  They,  in  common  with 
Hudson,  teach  that  the  peculiar  character- 
istic of  this  mind  is  to  beUeve  whatever  thought 
is  impressed  upon  it.  They  suggest  to  the 
unconscious  mind  that  it  can  cure  the  body, 
and  by  repeating  the  statement  until  it  is 
fully  accepted  the  work  of  restoration  fol- 
lows. All  schools  of  suggestive  therapeutics 
proceed  on  this  hypothesis,  that  the  power 
which  heals  is  mental,  and  belongs  to  and  is 
resident  within  the  person  healed.  Hence  the 
appeal  is  directed  toward  that  mind  or  that 
part  of  the  mind  whose  sphere  it  is  to  rule  the 
body. 

But  still  another  upward  step  has  been 
taken  because  of  the  fact  that  the  so-called 
unconscious  mind  is  found  to  be  the  subor- 
dinate and  servant  of  the  conscious  mind.  Its 
wonderful  powers  are  being  discovered  and 


Rise  and  Progress  of  Mental  Healing    111 

are  being  consciously  used  at  the  behest  of 
the  sovereign  will. 

In  the  American  Magazine  of  March,  1914, 
is  an  article  by  WiUiam  Hanna  Thompson, 
called  "The  Soul's  Winning  Battle  with 
Science."  He  identifies  this  inner  mind  with 
the  soul  of  man,  which  after  long  obscurity 
among  scientists  and  Uterati  is  once  more 
coming  into  fashion.  Referring  to  remarkable 
recoveries  through  mental  means  which  had 
come  under  his  observation,  he  expresses 
this  most  suggestive  and  pregnant  thought: 
"Pointing  directly  to  previously  unsuspected 
powers  in  the  human  organism,  facts  such  as 
these  point  no  less  surely  to  the  existence  in 
the  organism  of  an  entity  that  can  manipulate 
and  bend  that  organism  to  its  desire.  In 
other  words,  that  mind  or  spirit  are  not  only 
superior  to  matter,  but  that  the  ego  or  per- 
sonaKty  is  supreme  within  the  man,  and  can 
force  the  body  to  obey  its  will." 

Does  not  all  this  growth  in  thought  lead  us 
to  the  very  position  we  hold  to-day, — that 
the  conscious  mind  can  control  everything 
below  itseK? 


112  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

The  discoveries  of  physiological  psychology 
supply  the  last  link  necessary  to  prove  the 
true  foundation  for  what  in  the  past  has  been 
largely  theoretical. 

Dr.  Hudson,  more  than  fifteen  years  ago, 
in  his  book,  "The  Evolution  of  the  Soul," 
expressed  the  belief  that  the  organs  through 
which  this  subjective  mind  carried  on  its 
operations  in  the  body  were  the  medulla 
oblongata  and  the  sympathetic  nervous  sys- 
tem, but  he  did  not  intimate  that  they  were 
themselves  subject  to  the  direct  control  of  the 
conscious  mind. 

The  laboratory  has  since  revealed  the  nature 
of  the  brain  and  its  intimate  connection 
through  the  nervous  system  with  every  part 
of  the  body.  To  illustrate  this  it  is  necessary 
to  repeat  some  extracts  in  a  previous  chapter. 
Of  this  wonderful  mechanism  William  Hanna 
Thompson  writes:  "Whole  tracts  of  nerve 
fibers  descend  from  the  brain,  coursing  along 
the  nervous  strands  of  the  cord  till  each  fiber 
ends  at,  but  not  in,  a  spinal  nerve  cell.  Forth- 
with that  nerve  fiber  rules  the  spinal  nerve 
absolutely,  by  directing  how  it  is  to  act  and 


Rise  and  Progress  of  Mental  Healing    113 

do  this  or  that  according  to  commands  coming 
from  above."  Again  he  says:  "The  human 
will  is  a  specific  brain  stimulus  more  potent 
than  any  other.  It  excites  the  higher  nerve 
centers  in  the  gray  matter  of  the  brain,  and 
they  in  turn  control  the  working  of  all  the 
lower  nerve  centers  in  the  spinal  nervous 
system.  The  medulla  takes  the  orders  and 
executes  them  through  the  ganglia  along  the 
spine  and  the  solar  plexus."  The  greater 
significance  attaches  to  these  statements 
because  he  is  writing  only  of  the  ordinary 
acts  and  motions  of  the  body  which  he  says 
are  entirely  subject  to  the  behest  of  the 
brain  fiber.  This  clear  statement  from  such 
a  high  authority  of  the  relation  of  the  will  to 
the  brain,  and  the  explanation  of  how  com- 
mands are  carried  out  by  the  nervous  sys- 
tem, seems  the  most  convincing  proof  of  the 
possibihty  of  mental  cures,  and  the  best  pos- 
sible explanation  of  how  they  are  brought 
about.  This,  however,  is  but  an  exact 
scientific  statement  of  what  has  been  in  the 
minds  of  other  men. 

Dr.  W.  B.  Carpenter's  view  is  that  the  cere- 


114  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

brum  does  not  act  directly  on  the  motor 
nerves,  but  that  it  plays  downward  on  the 
motor  centers  contained  within  the  axial 
cord,  from  which  the  motor  nerves  arise.  He 
says,  "Experiments  seem  to  prove  that  the 
office  of  the  cerebrum  is  not  immediately  to 
evoke,  but  to  coordinate  and  direct  the 
action  of  the  lower  centers,  just  as  it  controls 
the  respiratory  movements  whose  center  is 
in  the  medulla  oblongata." 

Just  so  we  beheve  the  cerebrum  can  control 
every  other  vital  process,  through  stimulat- 
ing the  medulla  by  a  command  given  by  the 
willing  ego  and  transmitted  and  obeyed  by 
the  nervous  system. 

It  seems  conclusive  that  it  is  in  this  way 
that  all  cures  through  mental  processes  are 
wrought  out  upon  the  body.  The  intense 
desire,  growing  into  a  behef  which  becomes 
active  in  the  will  to  be  well,  acts  as  a  powerful 
brain  stimulus,  and  finally  energizes  the  whole 
body.  "No  psychosis  without  neurosis,"  — 
that  is,  no  thinking  without  its  effect  upon  the 
nervous  system,  is  a  proverb  among  psy- 
chologists.    How  much  more  true  when  the 


Rise  and  Progress  of  Mental  Healing    115 

thinking  is  of  the  intensity  of  seeking  for 
health! 

Does  not  all  this  seem  to  indicate  that  the 
thinking  and  willing  process  is  the  divinely 
appointed  way  in  which  man  is  to  gain  do- 
minion over  the  flesh? 

Dr.  Caleb  Wilham  Saleeby,  in  his  book, 
*' Worry,  the  Disease  of  the  Age,"  says:  "We 
may  or  we  may  not  possess  a  theory  which 
serves  to  explain  how  it  is  that  the  mind  of 
the  patient  is  able  to  influence  his  recovery 
from  disease.  For  myseK  I  think  that  a  per- 
fectly reasonable  theory  can  be  constructed. 
The  more  we  study  the  processes  of  recovery, 
the  more  we  are  convinced  that  they  depend, 
not  upon  the  introduction  of  drugs  from 
without,  but  upon  the  activity  of  forces  within 
the  body.  In  modern  times  we  have  come  to 
discover  that  this  power  of  the  body  to  heal 
itself  depends  upon  the  abiUty  of  various 
organs  in  the  body  to  produce  protective  and 
antidotal  substances  which  destroy  the  poisons 
produced  by  microbes,  or  even  kill  the  mi- 
crobes outright;  such  a  substance  may  be 
produced  in  the  Hver,  or  in  the  pancreas,  in 


116  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

the  bone-marrow,  in  the  thyroid  gland,  or 
elsewhere. 

**  But  these  tissues,  like  all  others,  are  subject 
to  the  control  of  the  nervous  system.  Their 
nutrition  —  upon  which  their  activity  de- 
pends—  is  absolutely  at  the  mercy  of  the 
nutritive  influence  which  the  nervous  system 
sheds  upon  them  by  means  of  the  special 
nutritive  nerves  that  are  distributed  to  every 
part  of  the  body. 

"  If  we  clearly  bear  this  mechanism  in  mind 
we  can  readily  discern  a  rational  explanation 
—  perhaps  here  completely  stated  for  the 
first  time  —  of  the  manner  in  which  the  mind 
is  able  to  control  the  processes  of  disease." 
Here  again  we  have  a  strong  statement  that 
the  health  of  the  body  is  under  the  control 
of  the  mind  acting  through  the  nervous 
system,  and,  as  we  know,  stimulating  the  cir- 
culation and  through  the  blood  supply  giving 
tone  and  vigor  to  every  part  of  the  body. 

Thus  scientific  investigation  has  given  us 
the  undoubted  proof  of  the  physical  founda- 
tion of  all  mental  cures.  Through  this 
knowledge  we  pass  from  the  realm  of  supersti- 


Rise  and  Progress  of  Mental  Healing    117 

tion  and  ignorance  to  a  full  understanding  of 
our  bodily  constitution  and  our  own  God- 
given  powers  to  control  its  condition.  Is  it 
not  the  strongest  possible  prop  to  our  con- 
fidence in  the  power  of  the  mind  over  the 
body  to  find  that  the  physical  structure  is 
perfectly  adapted  to  carry  out  the  dictates  of 
the  will  and  to  know  how  the  cure  is  effected? 

Is  it  not  also  true,  as  Dr.  Schofield  says, 
that  mental  therapeutics  consciously  used 
are  better  adapted  to  truly  educated  people? 

While  suggestion  and  autosuggestion  and 
aU  forms  of  unconscious  therapeutics  will 
continue  to  be  used,  we  are  justified  in  be- 
Heving  that  we  have  reached  a  higher  round 
upon  the  ladder  in  understanding  that  one's 
own  mind  is  the  seat  of  power  and  that  its 
energy  may  be  released  and  directed  by  the 
noblest  faculty  of  man  —  the  will.  When 
we  fully  realize  this  truth  and  act  upon  it  we 
can  at  once  correct  any  aberration  from  a 
normal  condition  of  health,  and  the  control 
of  the  body  by  the  appointed  forces  and  organs 
will  become  as  automatic  as  any  other  well 
estabhshed  habit.     Is  it  extreme  to  believe 


118  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

that  this  principle  ruled  in  the  heeding  work 
of  the  Great  Physician,  Jesus,  the  Christ? 
When  the  leper  sought  help,  he  said:  "Lord, 
if  thou  wilt  thou  canst  make  me  clean."  And 
Jesus  put  forth  his  hand  and  touched  him  and 
said:  *'I  will,  be  thou  clean."  He  com- 
manded the  evil  spirits  to  come  out  of  the 
afflicted  ones.  He  rebuked  by  his  word  the 
fever  which  immediately  left  the  mother  of 
Simon,  and  when  he  quieted  the  raging  storm, 
His  disciples  said:  "He  commandeth  even 
the  winds  and  the  waves  and  they  obey  Him." 
Did  not  these  and  many  other  incidents  of 
His  earthly  ministry  indicate  that  the  mo- 
tive power  of  His  work  was  His  will,  reinforced 
by  the  will  of  Omnipotence  in  fulfilUng  the 
highest  known  law,  that  mind  can  control 
and  manipulate  all  forms  of  matter  for  the 
benefit  of  man  and  the  glory  of  God? 

The  Son  of  Man  came  not  only  to  reveal 
God  to  man,  but  to  reveal  man  to  himself, 
by  showing  him  his  powers,  his  privileges, 
and  his  destiny;  and  we  honor  him  most 
when  we  aspire  most  to  fulfill  his  purposes 
concerning  us.     We  have  reason  to  beUeve 


Rise  and  Progress  of  Mental  Healing    119 

that  Christ  was  never  ill,  in  spite  of  all  his 
burdens  and  sorrows  and  exhausting  labors, 
and  we  can  only  conclude  that  this  was  true 
because  He  had  perfect  control  over  the  flesh. 
He  moved  through  life  with  a  mind  at  perfect 
poise,  His  wiU  in  absolute  harmony  with  the 
divine  will,  conscious  not  only  of  His  power 
over  others  who  came  to  Him  in  faith,  but, 
first  of  all,  master  of  Himself  in  every  part 
of  His  physical  and  spiritual  natiure.  Is  it 
presumption  for  us  who  are  Sons  and  heirs  of 
God,  and  joint  heirs  with  Jesus  Christ,  to 
aspire  to  attain  a  like  power  over  ourselves, 
through  obedience  to  the  divine  law  of  self- 
control!  John  said:  "As  he  is,  so  are  we  in 
this  world,"  and  we  have  Christ's  constant 
presence  to  help  us  to  reahze  our  desires  to 
approach  his  likeness. 

If  you  ask  how  is  this  to  be  wrought  out, 
and  how  we  are  to  reahze  what  we  fully  be- 
heve  to  be  God's  will  for  us  and  in  us,  I 
can  only  refer  you  once  more  to  Holy  Writ. 
"I  beseech  you,  therefore,  brethren,  by  the 
mercies  of  God,  that  ye  present  your  bodies 
a  Uving  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  unto  God 


120  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

which  is  your  reasonable  service.  And  be 
not  conformed  to  this  world,  but  be  ye  trans- 
formed by  the  renewing  of  your  mind,  that  ye 
may  prove  what  is  that  good  and  acceptable 
and  perfect  will  of  God  concerning  you." 


IX 

THE  GROUND  OF  OUR  HOPE 


CHAPTER  IX 
THE  GROUND  OF  OUR  HOPE 

AS  we  glance  back  over  the  history  of 
the  heaUng  art  from  its  earUest  begin- 
nings, we  see  not  only  great  change,  but,  in 
recent  years,  great  progress. 

All  that  human  skill  can  accomplish  has 
been  applied  to  the  cure  of  disease.  The 
span  of  Ufe  has  been  lengthened,  and  a  vast 
amount  of  suffering  relieved.  The  patient 
research  of  the  scientist  has  revealed  the 
constitution  of  the  human  body  and  its  func- 
tions and  has  laid  the  foundation  of  every 
form  of  cure.  Medicine,  surgery,  mechano- 
theraphy,  and  various  forms  of  hygiene  vie 
with  each  other  in  their  efforts  to  heal,  and 
all  have  their  adherents. 

But  when  all  forms  of  human  treatment 
shall  have  been  tried  and  found  unavailing, 
what  shall  the  sufferer  do?  Shall  he,  to  be 
consistent  with  his  former  ideas,  pass  quietly 
out  of  life  rather  than  look  about  him  and 


124  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

seize  upon  something  else  which  seems  to 
promise  reUef?  This  is  the  question  which 
thousands  are  asking  to-day.  The  world  is 
longing  for  a  cure  for  disease,  not  simply  for 
paUiation  of  symptoms  but  for  some  knowledge 
or  power  which  shall  completely  eradicate  it 
at  its  source. 

There  are  many  indications  that  this  boon 
so  ardently  sought  for  ages  is  being  gradually 
revealed  to  a  waiting,  suffering  world.  The 
ground  for  our  hope  is  in  the  growing  belief 
that  an  "All-wise  Creator  has  placed  the 
remedy  within  the  material  house  where  the 
spirit  of  Ufe  dwells"  (Dr.  Still),  and  that  we 
may  learn  to  use  it.  Healing  without  material 
remedies  has  been  in  the  world  as  long  as 
we  have  written  history,  and  it  is  probably 
as  old  as  the  race.  In  fact,  this  form  of 
healing  antedated  medicine  many  thousands 
of  years,  and  everything  indicates  that  this 
was  made  possible  by  man's  very  constitution, 
and  was  a  divine  provision  for  primitive  man. 
We  know  that  the  Israelites  were  without 
physicians  and,  from  the  beginning  of  their 
wanderings,  were  taught  by  Moses  to  seek 


The  Ground  of  Our  Hope  125 

for  healing  from  God  Himself.  All  through 
their  history  we  find  this  custom  revealed, 
and  it  is  probable  that  it  was  common  beUef 
and  practice  to  a  very  late  date.  Certainly 
Christ  found  many  who  beheved  in  divine 
heaUng  or  He  could  not,  at  the  very  begin- 
ning of  His  ministry,  have  succeeded  in  curing 
the  many  who  came  to  Him.  Very  early  in 
His  pubhc  work,  as  recorded  in  the  fourth 
Chapter  of  Matthew,  the  Word  says:  "Jesus 
went  about  all  Galilee,  teaching  in  their 
synagogues,  and  preaching  the  gospel  of  the 
Kingdom,  and  heahng  all  manner  of  sickness 
and  all  manner  of  disease  among  the  people. 
And  His  fame  went  throughout  all  Syria, 
and  they  brought  unto  Him  all  sick  people 
that  were  taken  with  divers  diseases  and  tor- 
ments and  those  which  were  possessed  with 
devils  and  those  which  were  lunatick,  and 
those  that  had  the  palsy;  and  He  healed 
them." 

Since,  in  another  place,  it  is  said  that  He 
did  no  mighty  works,  because  of  the  unbeUef 
of  the  people,  it  is  conclusive  that  in  many 
parts  of  Palestine,  and  among  many  of  the 


126  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

people,  healing  without  physical  means  was 
generally  accepted,  even  before  Christ's  time 
and  before  His  character  or  His  mission  were 
understood.  For  three  hundred  years  after- 
ward the  early  church  practiced  the  healing 
art  as  taught  by  the  disciples.  For  many 
centuries  it  was  lost  sight  of  except  in  rare 
instances,  but  in  modern  times  it  is  coming 
forth  again  in  many  forms. 

In  Europe,  the  development  has  been  along 
purely  scientific  hues  without  emphasis  upon 
its  relation  to  reUgion.  Eminent  men  in  great 
hospitals  in  Holland  and  France  have  per- 
formed marvelous  cures  by  means  of  hyp- 
notic and  suggestive  therapeutics,  and  have 
fully  demonstrated  the  amenabiHty  of  a 
large  class  of  diseases  to  mental  treatment. 

In  America,  strangely  enough,  physicians 
have  largely  avoided  this  method  of  treat- 
ment, confining  themselves  to  material  reme- 
dies. But  in  many  different  minds  the  behef 
in  something  higher  and  diviner  has  been 
cherished.  The  Mormon  Church  taught  and 
practiced  healing  by  the  laying  on  of  hands, 
as  did  John  Alexander  Dowie  and  his  fol- 


The  Ground  of  Our  Hope  127 

lowers.  The  Catholic  Church  has  taught  its 
people  to  offer  a  Novena  to  St.  Anne,  with 
fervent  faith,  and,  by  looking  upon  a  bone  or 
other  reUc,  many  have  been  able  to  throw 
away  their  crutches  or  their  medicines  and 
go  on  their  way  rejoicing. 

Dr.  Cullis,  of  Boston,  more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  century  ago  had  a  sanitarium  where  he 
took  patients  and  treated  them  only  by 
oflfering  the  prayer  of  faith,  and  many  were 
restored.  Faith-healing  has  many  adherents, 
and  is  practiced  by  several  bodies  of  beUevers, 
the  best  known  of  which  is  the  Christian 
Alliance,  whose  members,  as  they  say,  take 
Christ  as  their  physician  and  find  in  Him 
bodily  as  well  as  spiritual  health. 

However,  the  most  aggressive  advocates  of 
mental  heaUng  are  to  be  found  in  the  move- 
ments known  as  Christian  Science,  New 
Thought,  and  kindred  bodies.  They  are 
attracting  many  invalids  and  other  inquirers, 
and  even  Dr.  Thomson  Jay  Hudson,  the 
eminent  writer,  who  has  done  so  much  to 
make  the  new  psychology  readable,  admits 
that  they  have  made  thousands  of  genuine 


128  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

cures.  While  scouting  their  theology,  as 
well  as  their  psychology  and  metaphysics, 
as  utterly  inconsistent  and  absurd  to  a  de- 
gree, he  says  it  is  useless  longer  to  deny  the 
fact  that  many  have  found  great  help  from 
these  sources. 

Dr.  Hudson,  in  his  first  book,  "The  Law 
of  Psychic  Phenomena,"  and  in  his  last,  *'The 
Law  of  Mental  Medicine,"  very  clearly  sets 
forth  the  explanation  why  cures  are  made  in 
all  these  different  ways.  He  says  it  is  be- 
cause of  an  instinctive,  intuitive  faith  of 
the  subjective  mind,  which,  if  appealed  to 
strongly  enough,  responds  by  an  outflow  of 
reserve  power,  which  revitalizes  and  re- 
energizes the  body.  For  this  reason  it  does 
not  matter  whether  there  is  any  curative 
power  in  the  method  or  object  employed  or 
not,  if  only  the  confidence  of  the  patient  can 
be  sufficiently  aroused.  He  instances  the 
work  of  the  medicine  man  among  the  Indians 
who  puts  on  his  bravest  array  and  beats  his 
tom-tom  before  the  tent  of  the  sick  until,  in 
many  cases,  the  tide  of  disease  turns,  and 
health  is  restored. 


The  Ground  of  Our  Hope  129 

Memory  serves  to  recall  the  eagerness  with 
which  buck-eyes  were  sought  in  early  days 
and  carried  in  many  a  pocket  to  ward  off 
rheumatism.  Often  a  child  was  rendered 
malodorous  by  the  bag  of  asafoetida  hung 
about  the  neck  to  secure  immunity  from 
infectious  diseases.  What  different  is  this 
from  the  fetish  of  the  savage  or  the  rabbit 
foot  of  the  African  negro.^^  And  yet,  who  can 
say  that  the  repose  of  mind  secured  by  a 
beUef  in  these  prophylactic  precautions  does 
not  have  its  effect  upon  the  body  in  render- 
ing it  less  Uable  to  disease?  A  striking  in- 
stance of  the  same  character  is  told  in  the 
fifth  Chapter  of  Matthew's  Gospel.  The 
writer  speaks  of  a  certain  man  who  had  been 
helpless  for  thirty-eight  years,  who  lay  wait- 
ing at  the  pool  of  Bethesda  for  the  moving  of 
the  waters,  in  these  words:  "For  an  angel 
went  down  at  a  certain  season  into  the  pool, 
and  troubled  the  water;  whosoever  then 
after  the  troubhng  of  the  water  stepped  in 
was  made  whole  of  whatsoever  disease  he 
had."  What  is  this  but  an  illustration  of 
the  fact  that  it  was  the  belief  in  the  minds 


130  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

of  the  people  which  cured  them  and  not 
because  of  any  virtue  in  the  bubbUng  of  an 
intermittent  spring?  Seeing  the  man's  expec- 
tation of  cure,  in  case  he  could  be  placed  in 
the  spring,  Jesus  did  not  even  ask  him  if  he 
beUeved  it  possible,  but  simply  said:  "Wilt 
thou  be  made  whole?"  On  receiving  an 
affirmative  reply,  Jesus  saith  unto  him :  "Rise, 
take  up  thy  bed  and  walk."  This  same 
naive,  childUke  faith  was  exhibited  in  the 
work  of  the  apostles  as  recorded  in  Acts,  fifth 
chapter  and  fifteenth  verse,  where  we  are  told 
that  multitudes  of  men  and  women  brought 
their  sick  into  the  streets  and  laid  them  on 
beds  and  couches,  that  the  shadow  of  Peter 
might  fall  upon  them.  Judging  from  the 
context,  we  are  led  to  beUeve  that  all  such 
were  healed.  Are  we  not  fully  justified  in  be- 
Ueving  that  their  mental  condition  was  the 
source  of  their  healing  and  not  because  of  any 
mysterious  virtue  in  Peter's  shadow? 

Even  to-day  handkerchiefs  are  sent  to  be 
blessed  by  those  claiming  healing  power  and, 
on  their  return  to  their  owners,  cm-es  are 
said  to  follow.    Is  not  this  a  modern  illustra- 


The  Ground  of  Our  Hope  131 

tion  of  the  fact  that  the  behef  in  the  mind 
of  the  person  is  the  determining  factor  in  all 
these  cases? 

In  the  past  our  thought  has  been  centered 
upon  the  work  of  the  agent  or  healer,  and 
little  attention  has  been  given  to  the  part 
played  by  the  one  upon  whom  the  heahng 
was  wrought. 

A  careful  study  of  the  heaUng  miracles  of 
the  Bible  will  show  that  even  Christ  Himself 
seemed  never  to  heal  against  the  will  or 
without  the  cooperation  of  the  sick  ones  or 
some  of  the  near  friends.  To  one  He  said: 
*' Stretch  forth  thine  arm";  to  another, 
*'Take  up  thy  bed  and  walk";  to  the  lepers 
He  said:  "Go  thy  way,  and  show  thyself  to 
the  priest."  And  as  they  were  going  they  were 
healed. 

Perhaps  the  most  remarkable  illustration 
of  this  truth  was  given  by  the  poor  woman 
who  had  an  infirmity  for  twelve  years,  yet 
who  had  such  wonderful  faith  that  she  was 
made  whole  simply  by  touching  the  hem  of 
His  garment  in  a  crowd,  and  even  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  Lord  till  after  the  cure  was 


132  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

wrought.  Turning  to  her  He  said,  "  Daughter, 
be  of  good  comfort;  thy  faith  hath  made  thee 
whole." 

The  accounts  of  mental  cures,  both  in 
sacred  and  secular  history,  point  unmistak- 
ably to  the  fact  that  the  necessary  condition 
of  mind  is  one  of  hope  and  expectancy  of 
help  —  in  other  words  of  faith.  It  may  be 
so  very  weak  as  to  be  scarcely  recognized,  but 
it  is  there  or  one  would  not  seek  relief  through 
mental  means.  Granting  this  to  be  true,  the 
question  immediately  arises:  ''Why  should 
a  false  faith  have  the  same  results  as  a  true 
one?"  The  answer  to  this  question  is  that 
such  results  follow  only  when  the  faith  is 
beheved  to  be  based  upon  the  truth;  when 
proven  to  be  false  and  unreasonable,  it  loses 
its  efficacy. 

As  the  minds  of  men  rise  above  the  super- 
stitions of  the  past,  they  drop  their  primitive 
and  childish  beKefs  in  charms  and  amulets, 
in  the  incantations  of  the  savage,  and  the 
power  of  hideous  music  to  expel  sickness  or 
drive  out  the  devil.  Instead,  they  look  for 
the  deep  underlying  principle  which  mani- 


The  Ground  of  Our  Hope  133 

fests  itself  in  the  human  mind  as  faith  and 
accompHshes  such  mighty  results.  What  is 
the  explanation?  what  the  power?  It  is  to 
this  question  we  must  apply  ourselves,  and 
in  the  answer  is  bound  up  the  truth  about 
mental  healing,  for  which  the  world  is  seeking 
as  for  hidden  treasure.  At  last  we  know  that 
the  power  is  to  be  found  in  an  intelligent  un- 
derstanding and  appHcation  of  the  divine  law 
of  self-control  or  self-mastery  through  the 
supremacy  of  mind  over  matter,  of  the  spirit 
over  the  body,  and  through  the  develop- 
ment of  the  latent  powers  of  the  brain  in  its 
control  over  the  nervous  system.  It  is  still 
of  faith,  but  no  longer  bUnd.  Wide-eyed  and 
expectant  we  look  and  wait  for  the  still 
greater  things  which  shall  be  revealed  to  us 
and  in  us.  Through  this  conscious  evolution 
of  our  faculties  we  catch  a  new  meaning  in 
the  words  of  the  beloved  disciple,  when  he 
said:  **Now  are  we  the  sons  of  God,  and  it 
doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall  be;  but 
we  know  that  when  He  shall  appear  we  shall 
be  like  Him,  for  we  shall  see  Him  as  He  is." 


X 

THE  SPIRITUAL  ASPECT 


CHAPTER  X 
THE  SPIRITUAL  ASPECT 

THE  subject  of  healing  should  be  viewed 
in  three  aspects:  physical,  mental,  and 
spiritual. 

The  first  is  set  forth  in  physiology;  the 
second  in  psychology;  the  third  and  highest 
phase,  in  its  rehgious  interpretation. 

The  new  psychology  has  made  discoveries 
in  the  study  of  the  mind,  which  throw  won- 
derful Ught  upon  the  Bible,  and  upon  the 
work  of  Christ.  The  words  of  Jesus,  which 
have  been  accepted  by  faith,  modem  science 
is  now  proving  to  be  absolutely  true.  The 
wall  which  has  so  long  separated  science  and 
reUgion  is  being  rapidly  broken  down,  and 
the  conviction  is  growing  that  true  science 
and  real  rehgion,  instead  of  being  contradic- 
tory, are  in  perfect  harmony. 

It  is  believed  that  revealed  truth  will 
not  be  discredited  by  research,  but  will  be 
more  fully  confirmed,  the  more  thoroughly 


138  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

it  is  understood.  Nowhere  is  this  more  fully 
shown  than  in  the  developments  of  mental 
healing. 

Now,  as  in  olden  times,  the  one  essential 
condition  is  that  of  faith.  Of  this  state  of 
mind  Hudson  says,  ''Faith  is  the  principle 
which  energizes  the  human  soul,  and  .without 
wWchJJae-^Qu]-4&4)owerless^to  heal  the  body. 
And  when  Jesus  declared  to  His  patients,  as 
He  constantly  did, '  Thy  faith  hath  made  thee 
whole,'  it  was  a  clear,  positive,  and  em- 
phatic declaration  or  statement  of  the  one 
basic  principle  of  mental  therapeutics.  It 
was  equivalent  to  saying  nineteen  hundred 
years  in  advance  just  what  modern  experi- 
mental science  has  demonstrated  to  be 
true,  namely,  that  the  mental  energy  that 
heals  the  sick  resides  within  the  patient 
himself." 

Dr.  Sidis  agrees  with  Professor  James  that 
there  is  in  everyone  potential  energy  stored 
away  as  a  reserve  to  be  drawn  upon  in  emer- 
gency. He  says  that  there  is  far  less  energy 
utilized  by  the  individual  than  is  actually  at 
his  disposal.    In  the  treatment  of  his  patients 


The  Spiritual  Aspect  139 

he  is  able  to  tap  these  fresh  levels  of  reserve 
energy  and  call  forth  hitherto  unsuspected 
powers.  In  his  own  words,  he  writes, 
**We  are  confronted  with  the  important  phe- 
nomenon of  Uberation  of  dormant  reserve 
energy. 

"The  patient  feels  the  flood  of  fresh  ener- 
gies as  a  *  marvelous  transformation,'  as  a 
'new  Ught,'  as  a  *new  Hfe,'  as  something  worth 
far  more  than  life  itself." 

This,  then,  is  the  scientific  statement  of 
the  mental  and  spiritual  uplift  which  so 
often  accompanies  a  case  of  genuine  healing, 
especially  if  it  be  brought  about  quickly, 
so  that  the  contrast  between  the  earlier  and 
latter  condition  is  very  strong.  It  is  the 
result  of  the  faith  of  the  patient  energized 
by  his  will  to  reaUze  health,  and  with  many 
is  just  as  marked  and  definite  as  conversion 
or  any  other  spiritual  experience. 

This  gift  of  bodily  health  is  not  made  alone 
to  the  religious,  but  seems  to  be  one  of  the 
universal  blessings  proffered  to  all  aUke, 
and  to  be  received  and  enjoyed  by  all  who 
obey    therapeutic   law.      Christ   healed   the 


140  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

nine  thankless  lepers  as  freely  as  the  one  who 
returned  to  give  glory  to  God.  Just  as  real 
cures  are  effected  in  the  great  hospitals  for 
mental  treatment  in  Europe  as  are  wrought 
by  the  most  sincere  faith  healers  and  with 
much  better  scientific  attestation. 

Just  recently  a  committee,  consisting  of 
ten  representatives  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land and  ten  distinguished  medical  men, 
with  the  Dean  of  Westminster  as  Chairman, 
made  pubUc  the  results  of  their  careful  in- 
vestigations into  the  subject  and  power  of 
prayer. 

The  following  is  a  brief  extract  from 
their  report:  "This  committee  desire  to  ex- 
press their  beUef  in  the  efl&cacy  of  prayer. 
They  reverently  beUeve,  however,  that  the 
divine  power  is  exercised  in  conformity 
with  and  through  the  operation  of  natural 
laws. 

"Spiritual  ministration  should  be  recog- 
nized equally  with  medical  ministration,  as 
carrying  God's  blessing  to  the  sick.  Health, 
bodily  and  mental,  is  capable  of  being  influ- 
enced  for   good   by   spiritual  means.     The 


The  Spiritual  Aspect  141 

physical  results  of  what  is  called  faith  or 
spiritual  heaUng  do  not  prove  on  investiga- 
tion to  be  different  from  those  of  mental 
healing  or  suggestion." 

The  "unco  guid"  may  question  this,  but 
the  fact  remains  and  suggests  that  this  may 
be  one  of  God's  ways  of  winning  the  world 
to  Himself.  Christ  knew  what  was  in  man. 
He  set  up  no  arbitrary  standard  of  fitness, 
but  His  appeal  was  only  to  the  faith  and 
will. 

However,  He  reproved  the  nine  lepers  for 
their  ingratitude,  and  said  to  one  man  whom 
He  healed,  "Go  thy  way  and  sin  no  more 
lest  a  worse  thing  come  upon  thee." 

There  can  be  no  question  that  the  man 
whose  mind  is  stayed  on  God  will  be  best 
able  to  grasp  this  blessing.  Only  Christ, 
within  the  soul,  can  give  the  peace  and  poise 
necessary  to  an  enabhng  and  enduring  faith. 

"  None  else  can  heal  all  our  soul's  diseases, 
No,  not  one;  no,  not  one." 

Or,  as  Rev.  J.  M.  CampbeU  in  his  recent 
book,   "The  Presence,"   has  beautifully  ex- 


142  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

pressed  this  truth,  *'  He  is  the  abiding  presence, 
flooding  the  soul  with  strength,  heahng  the 
body  of  its  diseases,  reducing  to  harmony 
life's  discords,  soothing  frayed  nerves,  calm- 
ing troubled  hearts  and  bringing  the  entire 
man  into  perfect  oneness  with  the  divine  will 
and  with  the  divine  order.  To  come  into 
touch  with  Him  is  to  come  into  touch  with  the 
Infinite.  It  is  to  tap  the  hidden  fountain  of 
divine  energy,  which  flowing  into  the  soul 
makes  its  possessor  *  every  whit  whole.'" 

To  the  spiritually  minded  such  a  blessing 
affords  added  reasons  for  gratitude  and  love 
to  his  Heavenly  Father,  and  his  heart  must 
continuaUy  sing,  "Bless  the  Lord,  0  my 
soul,  and  forget  not  all  His  benefits,  who  re- 
deemeth  thy  hfe  from  destruction;  who 
crowneth  thee  with  loving  kindness  and  tender 
mercies." 

In  trying  to  define  the  nature  of  prevailing 
faith,  R.  L.  Marsh,  the  author  of  a  httle  book 
on  *' Faith  Healing,  a  Defense,"  states  the 
matter  very  clearly  and  free  quotations  fol- 
low. He  says,  "What  then  is  faith?  Con- 
sidered actively,  it  is  the  action  of  the  will  in 


The  Spiritual  Aspect  143 

appropriating  what  God  has  ojBfered  or  placed 
within  our  reach. 

"It  is  the  cooperation  of  the  hiunan  will 
with  the  will  of  God,  in  realizing  the  purposes 
of  God.  Considered  passively,  faith  is  the 
submissive  attitude  or  state  of  the  will  in 
consenting  to  receive  the  offered  blessings  of 
God. 

'*  Faith  is  not  an  arbitrary  condition,  but 
a  necessary  condition  to  the  receiving  of  sal- 
vation or  heaUng,  just  as  the  stretching  out 
of  the  hand  is  necessary  to  the  receiving  of  an 
apple  proffered  by  a  friend. 

"Faith  is  the  soul's  appropriating  act. 

"God's  blessings  are  not  bestowed  each  by 
an  individual  act  of  His  grace  and  power. 
They  are  constantly  within  reach,  having 
already  been  given  in  Christ,  and  faith  is  the 
act  of  appropriating  them. 

"The  divine,  the  spiritual,  the  so-called 
supernatural,  is  all  about  us,  just  as  electricity 
has  always  been  within  reach.  But  just  as 
man  must  reach  out  his  hand,  appropriate  the 
electric  power,  and  turn  its  current  into  the 
necessary  channels,  before  it  works  his  will, 


144  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

so  he  must  reach  out,  take,  appropriate,  and 
turn  into  the  necessary  channels  the  spiritual 
currents  of  God's  Ufe-giving  forces  before 
they  can  avail  for  his  blessing.  Such  is  the 
faith  that  saves  the  soul  and  heals  the  body. 
In  either  case  the  power  is  divine.  Faith, 
therefore,  brings  the  power  of  God,  neces- 
sarily, into  action.  The  power  of  God  cannot 
be  withheld  from  it.  And  this  is  not  simply 
because  God  has  promised  to  do  this  or 
that,  but  because  He  has  so  created  men 
that  they  may  use  His  power  when  they  will. 

"And  the  willing  to  use  this  power  is  faith. 
It  is  the  province,  the  nature,  the  end  of  faith 
to  call  the  divine  power  into  action. 

"Faith,  then,  is  the  calling  into  effective 
action,  for  a  desired  end,  of  the  divine  energy." 

How  this  energy,  which  can  be  nothing  less 
than  the  Holy  Spirit  cleansing  the  temple  of 
his  abode,  works  in  response  to  faith,  we  may 
not  be  able  to  understand.  It  is  as  if  by 
turning  that  pole  of  the  mind  we  call  faith 
to  the  Som-ce  of  life  the  vital  connection  is 
made  through  which  new  strength  flows  in 
"and  we  are  whole  again." 


The  Spiritual  Aspect  145 

But  we  cannot  deny  that  in  every  other 
reahn  of  life  natural  processes  are  used  to 
accomplish  spiritual  results,  and  it  may  well 
be  that  His  power  flows  through  its  natural 
channels  in  the  normal  operations  of  the 
human  mind,  when  seeking  health  through 
the  appointed  way  of  faith. 

In  his  book,  ''After  Pentecost,  What?" 
Dr.  Campbell  says  on  this  point:  "From 
the  spirit,  the  body  is  reached;  Christ 
quickens  the  spirit,  the  spirit  quickens  the 
body;  Christ  masters  the  spirit,  the  spirit 
masters  the  body;  Christ  governs  the  spirit, 
the  spirit  governs  the  body.  From  the 
throne  of  the  Spirit,  He  holds  sway  over  the 
entire  man." 

Here,  then,  in  the  entire  surrender  of  the 
life  to  Christ,  is  the  secret  of  that  perfect 
wholeness  which  He  came  to  create  in  his 
followers. 

If,  in  our  quest  for  health,  we  must  spiritual- 
ize our  Kves,  let  us  not  hesitate,  no  matter 
what  the  cost,  but  press  on  with  courage 
high,  and  faith  strong,  until,  our  struggles 
ended,  we  enter  and  possess  the  promised 


146  Mental  Gonial  of  the  Body 

land  of  joyous  heart  and  buoyant  health,  our 
divine  inheritance. 

"Thou,  0  Christ,  art  all  I  want; 

More  than  all  in  Thee  I  find; 
Raise  the  fallen,  cheer  the  faint, 

Heal  the  sick,  and  lead  the  blind. 
Thou  of  Ufe  the  fountain  art, 

Freely  let  me  take  of  Thee; 
Spring  Thou  up  within  my  heart, 

Rise  to  all  eternity." 


XI 

HEALTH  THROUGH  SELF-CONTROL 
HOW  TO  SECURE  IT 


CHAPTER  XI 

HEALTH  THROUGH  SELF-CONTROL 
HOW  TO  SECURE  IT 

AS  has  been  fully  set  forth  in  the  preceding 
pages,  the  form  of  mind  cure  into  which 
we  are  inquiring  is  based  upon  the  beUef  that 
all  the  bodily  forces  and  functions  can  be 
brought  under  one's  control  through  the 
will.  To  recapitulate  briefly:  The  will,  when 
exerted,  is  a  brain  stimulus  which  sets  nerve 
currents  or  impulses  flowing  from  the  cere- 
brum through  the  lower  brain  and  spinal 
nervous  system,  to  every  part  of  the  body. 
These  nerve  impulses  give  life  and  vigor  all 
along  their  course,  and  waken  weak  and 
lethargic  organs  to  greater  activity. 

In  this  manner  nerve  inhibition  is  over- 
come and  what  seems  quite  miraculous  often 
results.  There  is  ground  for  this  in  a  state- 
ment of  HaUeck's  when  he  says,  "No  constant 
state,  but  only  a  change  effected  with  a 
certain    suddenness,    calls    to    life    a    nerve 


150  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

process."  Since  the  circulation  of  the  blood, 
as  well  as  every  other  function  of  the  body,  is 
under  the  control  of  the  nervous  system,  it 
follows  that  this,  too,  can  be  stimulated  or 
retarded  by  these  currents  passing  over  the 
nerves  which  accompany  all  the  circulatory 
system,  and  by  means  of  which  the  arterial 
walls  can  be  relaxed  or  contracted,  according 
to  whether  more  or  less  blood  is  needed.  This 
is  of  first  importance,  as  the  blood  is  the  life 
stream  and  is  the  basis  of  all  cures. 

Usually  we  depend  entirely  upon  the  auto- 
matic action  of  the  body,  which  after  an  injury 
immediately  rushes  a  large  supply  of  blood 
to  the  part  affected. 

The  heat  and  sweUing  about  a  bruised  area, 
the  inflammation  about  a  fracture  in  the 
process  of  callous  formation,  and  the  impervi- 
ous fibrous  membrane  formed  by  the  union 
of  myriads  of  white  blood  corpuscles  about  an 
infected  area  to  ward  off  a  general  body  in- 
fection are  all  nature's  efforts  to  cure  through 
the  heahng  and  reconstructive  power  of  the 
blood.  So  if  the  circulation  can  always  be 
controlled  and  can  be  accelerated  by  the  will, 


Health  Through  Self-Control  151 

healing  will  always  be  perfect  and  presumably 
more  rapid.  To  heal  through  mental  means 
is  never  to  do  anything  contrary  to  nature, 
but  simply  to  assist  or  "speed  up"  her  proc- 
esses by  conscious  effort  instead  of  simply 
"letting  nature  take  her  course." 

To  send  fresh  energy  consciously  to  the 
point  at  need  is  simply  a  reinforcement  of 
the  natural  elements,  which  may  turn  the 
tide  and  bring  victory  out  of  defeat.  To  secure 
this  power  over  yourself,  reaUze  your  privi- 
lege to  be  master  of  yourself  and  bring  the 
body  into  subjection  through  conamands, 
willing  mentally  any  effect,  in  harmony  with 
nature's  operations,  which  you  desire  to 
produce.  As  heretofore  explained,  these  com- 
mands are  transmitted  as  nerve  impulses  or 
currents  by  the  brain  and  nervous  system  to 
all  parts  of  the  body. 

In  explaining  how  to  secure  this  mastery 
of  the  body,  emphasis  must  be  laid  upon  the 
absolute  necessity  of  giving  the  process  ade- 
quate time  and  attention.  This  is  the  crux 
of  the  whole  matter.  If  one  is  to  be  his  own 
physician,  or  healer,  he  must  be  both  vigilant 


152  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

and  diligent.  Instead  of  denying  disease  and 
the  evidence  of  the  senses,  affirm  the  greater 
power  within  to  overcome  it.  Instead  of  ignor- 
ing sickness,  recognize  it  and  deal  with  it 
accordingly.  Sickness  is  one  of  the  most 
patent  facts  of  life,  and  cannot  be  wiped  out 
of  existence  by  a  mere  mental  negation.  But 
face  it  without  fear,  and  bravely  make  use  of 
the  weapons  which  an  aroused  will  and  the 
physical  forces  supply  to  master  it. 

The  disciples  of  New  Thought  go  into  the 
silence,  and  give  the  body  commands,  though 
not  in  the  simple  way  herein  outlined. 

The  followers  of  Christian  Yoga  make  what 
they  call  "the  silent  demand,"  the  Christian 
Scientist  "realizes  his  being."  In  all  cases 
the  object  is  the  same,  that  is,  to  place  them- 
selves in  such  an  attitude  of  body  and  mind 
as  shall  enable  them  to  realize  their  desire  or 
prayer  for  health. 

What  we  must  also  do  is  to  take  time  to 
"get  hold  of  ourselves"  in  such  a  way  that 
we  may,  through  divine  help,  secure  perfect 
control  of  both  mind  and  body. 

When  first  trying  to  bring  the  body  under 


Health  Through  Self-Control  153 

control  it  is  necessary  to  give  the  commands 
often,  at  least  twice  a  day  and  the  last  thing 
before  going  to  sleep  and  inamediately  after 
waking  are  reconamended.  Then  one  is  better 
able  to  shut  out  the  world  and  its  cares,  and 
can  look  within  and  there  come  into  closer 
connection  with  the  Life  Giver,  the  source  of 
all  health.  Another  rule  as  to  time  is  to  begin 
the  effort  to  overcome  illness  just  as  soon  as 
it  is  realized.  Do  not  wait  till  any  condition 
becomes  serious,  but  try  at  once  to  "nip  it 
in  the  bud." 

In  acute  conditions,  repeat  the  commands 
frequently,  as  often  as  the  mind  is  capable 
of  the  necessary  labor.  As  one  lady,  formerly 
the  wife  of  a  physician,  said,  "Take  as  often 
as  indicated,  until  reUeved." 

The  first  essential  is  to  secure  as  perfect 
relaxation  as  possible,  consciously  letting  go 
every  Hmb  and  muscle,  until  the  body  is 
hmp.  This,  of  itself,  relieves  tension  and 
pressure,  smooths  out  the  taut  nerves  and 
tired  muscles,  permits  freer  circulation,  and 
allows  nature  to  do  her  work  without  inter- 
ference.   When  teachers  of  physical  culture 


154  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

can  restore  nervous  pupils  to  health  simply 
by  teaching  them  how  to  relax,  it  is  well 
worth  anyone's  while  to  cultivate  the  habit. 

A  proper  mental  condition  is  also  essential. 
When  you  look  within,  desiring  to  set  your 
physical  house  in  order,  you  should  remember 
that  you  are  dweUing  in  the  temple  of  the 
Most  High  and  should  reverence  the  body 
which  God  honors  by  His  presence.  Under 
such  circumstances  once  must  exclaim,  "I  am 
fearfully  and  wonderfully  made."  But  when 
we  realize  that  this  marvelously  intricate  and 
delicate  mechanism  is  given  into  our  keeping 
and  that  we  can  make  of  it  practically  what 
we  will,  our  minds  must  surely  be  filled  with 
gratitude  to  the  Giver  of  all  good.  Earnest 
prayer  for  courage,  fortitude,  patience,  per- 
sistence, and  every  mental  and  spiritual  gift 
necessary  to  success  prepares  the  mind  for  its 
task.  Let  the  mind  be  at  ease,  with  the  same 
simple,  impKcit  trust  in  which  you  would  ask 
in  prayer  for  any  other  good  thing  without 
questioning  or  anxiety  as  to  the  outcome. 

In  seeking  physical  as  well  as  spiritual 
blessings  we  must  become  as  little  children. 


Health  Through  Self-Control  155 

These  great  blessings  are  not  reached 
through  the  intellect,  but  through  the  in- 
stinctive, intuitive  faith  of  the  soul.  Aside 
from  the  assurance  you  may  have  of  divine 
help  in  your  efforts,  you  should  have  entire 
confidence  in  the  well  estabUshed  principle 
that  the  mind  should  control  the  body,  also 
that  it  is  your  privilege  to  gain  health  by 
controUing  the  mind,  and  through  its  power 
rule  the  body.  You  should  also  have  the  con- 
viction that  it  is  God's  will  that  you  should 
be  well  and  that  health  may  be  yours  by 
obeying  His  laws  and  cooperating  with  him 
in  casting  out  and  overcoming  disease  just 
as  you  would  overcome  and  cast  out  sin.  So 
long  as  one  thinks  that  his  sickness  is  a  pun- 
ishment or  for  discipUne,  he  will  make  no 
progress.  On  the  other  hand,  when  we 
remember  that  Christ  healed  all  who  came  to 
Him  in  the  right  spirit,  we  must  reaUze  that 
He  was  doing  the  will  of  the  Father,  and 
may  rest  assured  that  it  is  just  as  much 
God's  purpose  and  desire  for  His  children 
that  they  should  be  sound  in  body  as  to  be 
pure  in  heart. 


156  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

Concentration  upon  the  object  to  be  at- 
tained is  most  important;  so  in  giving  the 
commands  hold  the  mind  as  firmly  as  pos- 
sible to  its  task.  Give  the  command  in 
faith  that  it  will  be  obeyed,  and  do  not 
neutraUze  it  by  a  subsequent  doubt  or  fear. 
The  nerve  wire  can  carry  but  one  message 
at  a  time  and  the  last  one  over  will  be  the 
one  which  will  express  the  real  state  of  the 
mind  and  will  be  obeyed.  Expect  response 
in  conformity  to  your  will,  but  be  brave  and 
patient  till  you  secure  results. 

To  constantly  examine  yourself  or  your 
symptoms  is  not  consistent  with  a  trustful 
faith.  Avoid  introspection  except  just  at  the 
time  and  for  the  purpose  of  the  self-treat- 
ment. In  case  recovery  is  delayed,  study  to 
see  if  you  are  fulfilling  the  conditions.  Never 
get  discouraged,  but  remember  that  in  the 
divine  order  it  is  "first  the  blade,  then  the 
ear,  and  then  the  full  corn  in  the  ear." 

Often  these  cures  are  matters  of  slow 
growth,  but  they  may  be  all  the  surer  for 
that. 

An  oak  does  not  reach  maturity  in  less 


Health  Through  Self-Control  157 

than  a  century,  but  it  is  the  most  enduring 
of  trees. 

Probably  our  noble  sequoias  were  growing 
when  Solomon  was  building  the  temple,  but 
they  still  rear  their  lofty  columns  in  the 
groves  which  were  God's  first  temples.  So 
it  is  true  in  life,  as  in  nature,  that  the  best 
things  are  of  gradual  development,  even 
though  in  their  culmination  or  blossoming 
they  seem  very  sudden  or  miraculous. 

Let  yom*  mind  be  at  rest  in  hope.  Join  the 
"Don't  Worry"  Club.  Trust  m  the  Lord 
and  wait  patiently  for  Him,  and  when  you 
have  given  the  commands,  faithfully  and 
earnestly,  dismiss  the  matter  from  your 
mind  till  the  regular  time  comes  around 
again,  and  meantime  live  a  sane,  normal, 
happy  life. 

Since  the  foundation  stone  of  this  matter 
is  self-control,  or  control  of  the  body  by  the 
mind,  it  is  self-evident  that  the  mind  itself 
must  be  entirely  under  the  control  of  the  will. 
So  one  should  preserve  his  self-control  in 
every  other  respect,  not  allowing  himself  to 
be  disturbed  by  anything  which  may  happen. 


158  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

When  seeking  such  a  wonderful  boon  as 
freedom  from  pain  and  weakness,  surely  it 
is  worth  the  price  we  must  pay,  even  though 
it  does  take  an  effort  always  to  be  calm  and 
sweet  tempered. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  add  that  one 
should  be  bright  and  cheerful  at  all  times. 

The  path  to  physical  well-being,  as  well  as 
to  spiritual  power,  is  not  through  theology, 
psychology,  or  metaphysics,  but  through 
obedience. 

When  we  bring  every  thought  into  cap- 
tivity to  the  law  of  Christ,  success  is  assured. 

Remember  always  that  you  have  the  remedy 
within  yourself,  and  that  if  you  fu  fill  the 
conditions  and  persevere,  it  is  only  a  ques- 
tion of  time  till  you  will  be  master  of  your- 
seK  in  body  as  well  as  spirit.  After  all,  the 
only  absolutely  essential  thing  is  to  beUeve 
that  this  blessing  is  for  you  as  well  as  for 
others,  and  to  act  upon  that  belief,  leaving 
the  results  with  a  higher  power. 

If  we  obey  the  law  of  the  power,  the  power 
will  obey  us;  and  if  we  do  our  part  in  trying 
to  bring  our  bodies  back  to  a  state  of  health, 


Health  Through  Self-Control  159 

we  may  rest  assured  that  the  Power  which 
"worketh  in  us  to  will  and  to  do  of  His  good 
pleasure"  will  reinforce  our  puny  efforts  with 
His  Almighty  will. 

So  may  we  safely  commit  our  way  unto 
the  Lord,  and,  trusting  in  Him,  know  that  He 
will  bring  it  to  pass. 

"  I  cannot  do  it  alone, 

The  waves  run  fast  and  high. 

And  the  fogs  close  chill  around. 
And  the  Hght  goes  out  in  the  sky; 

But  I  know  that  we  two 

Shall  win  in  the  end,  — 
Jesus  and  I. 

"Coward  and  wayward  and  weak, 
I  change  with  the  changing  sky; 

To-day  so  eager  and  brave, 
To-morrow  not  ceuing  to  try; 

But  He  never  gives  in. 

So  we  two  shall  win,  — 
Jesus  and  I." 


XII 

MODUS  OPERANDI  — Continued 


CHAPTER  XII 
MODUS  OPERANDI  —  Continued 

A  SUGGESTIVE  general  self-treatment 
is  as  follows: 

Commencing  with  the  brain,  go  through 
its  different  portions  in  thought  slowly,  and 
continue  throughout  the  entire  body  one 
organ  at  a  time,  firmly  commanding  or  wiUing 
each  part  to  do  what  by  nature  it  should  do. 

For  example:  I  command  the  arteries  and 
blood  vessels  in  the  brain  to  open  to  allow 
free  entrance  of  blood.  I  command  the  life 
forces  in  the  blood  to  overcome  all  disease 
there,  I  command  the  brain  to  do  its  work  in 
clear  thinking.  I  command  every  artery  and 
cell  in  the  lungs  to  open  to  allow  free  circula- 
tion and  perfect  breathing.  I  command  the 
life  forces  to  overcome  all  disease  there. 

Continue  imtil  you  have  given  the  com- 
mands or  sent  nerve  currents  of  power  to 
every  organ  of  the  body.  To  command  the 
establishment  of  the  normal  circulation  in 


164  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

every  part  of  the  body  will  equalize  the  amount 
of  blood. 

It  is  often  a  great  help  to  place  one's  hand 
over  the  organ  treated,  as  it  helps  to  focus 
the  attention  and  brings  the  will  to  bear  more 
directly  upon  the  point  at  need. 

Another  method  of  procedure  is  to  treat 
the  nervous  system,  conamencing  with  its 
center,  the  brain,  passing  in  thought  down 
through  the  medulla  and  spinal  column  or 
through  the  trunk  and  out  through  the 
limbs  one  at  a  time  to  the  extremities,  opening 
the  arteries  and  blood  vessels  which  every- 
where accompany  the  nerves.  Hold  yourself 
in  what  Dr.  Carpenter  calls  the  attitude  of 
"expectant  attention,"  and  as  you  proceed 
imagine  you  see  the  work  actually  going  on. 

It  is  the  nutrient  oxygenated  blood  which 
energizes  and  rebuilds  nerve  tissue,  and  the 
relaxed  body  and  the  expectant  state  of  mind 
furnish  the  favorable  conditions  for  its  ready 
flow. 

One  understanding  the  matter  fully  can 
give  more  general  commands  and  can  control 
the  nerves  by  saying  "Be  quiet!  be  calm!  be 


Modus  Operandi  —  Continued        165 

strong!  do  your  work  of  controUing  circula- 
tion and  stimulating  the  vital  processes,"  and 
so  on.  The  same  results  will  follow  as  though 
all  the  physiological  action  was  kept  in  mind. 

To  a  cramping  muscle,  you  can  say,"  Relax! 
let  go!"  to  a  weak  muscle  and  a  sagging 
organ,  "Contract!  draw  up  into  your  proper 
position!"  and  in  either  case  the  message  will 
be  carried  and  obeyed,  if  insisted  upon.  If 
fever  threatens,  command  the  opening  of  the 
pores;  if  in  a  draft  or  overheated,  close  them. 
If  a  cold  starts,  give  a  general  treatment  to 
energize  the  whole  body,  reUeve  congestion 
wherever  present,  and  take  a  "mental  physic" 
by  commanding  the  Uver,  bowels,  and  other 
organs  concerned  to  become  active  and  "carry 
off  the  cold." 

In  all  this  effort  to  mentally  master  the 
body  there  is  nothing  to  hold  the  will  to  its 
task  hke  an  emotional  interest.  So  put  into 
it  all  the  feeUng  which  your  need  warrants 
and  it  will  multiply  the  motive  power  of  the 
command. 

Many  practical  questions  will  arise,  one  of 
which  will  be,  "How  can  I  know  what  com- 


166  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

mands  to  give  in  case  I  do  not  know  what 
ails  me?  "  A  general  treatment  of  the  nervous 
system  and  the  circulation  will  directly  af- 
fect every  part  of  the  body,  but  in  case  of 
doubt,  in  the  present  state  of  om*  knowledge 
one  should  secure  the  best  possible  diagnosis. 
If  a  physician  is  employed,  learn  from  him 
what  effect  he  is  endeavoring  to  produce,  and 
work  in  harmony  with  his  efforts.  A  physician 
was  recently  heard  to  give  directions  for  self- 
treatment  to  a  patient  suffering  from  a 
severe  cold,  to  cause  bowel  action  through 
commanding  the  action  of  all  the  organs 
concerned,  just  as  we  would  do. 

The  healing  cults  secure  results  with  no 
knowledge  of  the  body,  indeed  while  denying 
its  existence,  so  it  is  possible  for  one  to  help 
himself  with  only  a  very  general  knowledge; 
but  an  intelUgent  understanding  of  the  body 
and  its  operations  will  be  helpful,  and  will  no 
doubt  bring  better  results. 

Another  question  is,  "Can  harm  be  done 
by  giving  the  wrong  command?"  It  seems 
most  unUkely.  Dr.  Sadler  states  that  the 
automatic   processes   cannot   be   perceptibly 


Modus  Operandi  —  Continued        167 

interrupted  by  the  mind,  and  that  all  the 
natural  orders  passing  over  the  nerves  are 
censored  by  the  great  gangUa  or  relay  sta- 
tions. A  naughty  child  can  hold  his  breath 
till  he  is  black  in  the  face,  and  an  insane 
woman  has  been  known  to  hold  her  breath 
till  she  suffocated,  but  these  are  conditions 
where  reason  has  abdicated  her  throne,  and 
do  not  apply  to  sane  beings  who  are  using 
the  will  only  in  harmony  with  the  regular 
action  of  the  bodily  organs. 

Mothers  will  ask,  "Can  I  treat  my  children 
while  they  are  too  young  to  treat  them- 
selves?" Speaking  without  experience,  the 
answer  would  be,  "I  would  certainly  try," 
without  neglecting  any  other  wise  means  of 
rehef.  Suggestion  is  universally  recognized 
as  a  most  powerful  force  in  the  training  and 
education  of  children,  and  in  matters  of  health 
it  may  well  be  efficacious;  however,  the  main 
purpose  of  this  treatise  is  to  teach  the  under- 
lying principles  by  which  health  is  to  be 
secured  through  self-help.  In  treating  another 
exert  the  will  through  commands  just  as  for 
yourself. 


168  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

"Can  I  treat  anyone  at  a  distance?" 

We  may  not  be  able  to  explain  how  this 
would  be  possible,  but  since  so  many  healers 
claim  to  do  so,  it  may  be  well  enough  to  give 
the  opinion  of  one  of  our  wisest  mentaUsts. 

Dr.  Carpenter  writes:  "Looking  at  nerve 
force  as  a  special  form  of  physical  energy,  it 
may  not  be  deemed  altogether  incredible 
that  it  should  exert  itself  from  a  distance  so 
as  to  bring  the  brain  of  one  person  into 
direct  dynamical  communication  with  that  of 
another  without  the  intermediation  either  of 
verbal  language  or  movements  of  expression." 
Some  beheve  this  process  is  akin  to  what  takes 
place  between  the  transmitter  and  receiver 
in  wireless  telegraphy,  which  was  once  thought 
incredible. 

He  adds  that  to  deny  this  possibiUty  would 
be  unscientific.  Others  must  answer  these 
questions  from  their  wider  knowledge  and 
experience. 

Another  will  ask,  "Must  I  give  up  all  other 
means.^" 

The  writer  would  not  be  willing  to  assume 
the  responsibility  of  advising  anyone  on  this 


Modus  Operandi  —  Continued        169 

point,  but  can  see  no  conflict  between  a  hot 
water  bag  applied  externally  to  increase  cir- 
culation, and  a  mental  force  exerted  from 
within  for  the  same  purpose.  It  may  be  true 
that  one  will  naturally  put  more  energy  into 
his  mental  efforts  if  he  reahzes  that  they  are 
his  sole  dependence.  On  the  other  hand,  a 
more  fearful  mind  might,  at  first,  be  thrown 
into  a  panic  and  be  unable  to  accompUsh 
anything  if  he  felt  obhged  at  once  to  depend 
entirely  upon  powers  as  yet  untried.  "Let 
everyone  be  fully  persuaded  in  his  own 
mind." 

If  one  desires,  it  is  possible  to  leave  off 
medicines  gradually  by  reducing  the  fre- 
quency and  size  of  the  dose,  and  in  time  he 
can  so  build  up  the  health  that  he  can  dis- 
pense with  everything  except  the  mental 
means.  But  it  must  be  acknowledged  that 
many  of  the  greatest  triumphs  of  psycho- 
therapy have  been  won  where  physicians  and 
material  remedies  have  been  found  unavailing, 
and  both  have  been  given  up  at  once. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  every 
other  means  by  which  health  is  upbuilt  is 


170  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

still  available.  Deep  breathing,  fresh  air, 
exercise,  good  food,  sanitation,  and  obedience 
to  all  the  known  laws  of  health  are  wise  and 
well-tested  aids. 

It  is  the  height  of  folly  to  reject  or  despise 
the  certain  results  of  scientific  investigation, 
but  experience  proves  that  one  can  soon 
emancipate  himself  from  dietary  fads.  A 
well  energized  stomach  can  soon  dispose  of  a 
wide  variety  of  foods,  and  improved  digestion 
become  the  best  possible  source  of  renewed 
health. 

Perhaps  someone  is  even  now  asking,  "Does 
this  mean  the  conquering  of  the  last  enemy?" 

In  the  first  flush  of  enthusiasm  over  her 
wonderful  experience  in  regaining  health 
through  control  of  the  Ufe  forces,  the  writer 
happened  to  speak  of  it  to  a  lady  who  said 
impulsively,  "Oh,  I  don't  believe  it!  If  you 
could  do  that  you  could  Uve  forever  I" 

To  be  sure,  science  is  now  teaching  that 
there  is  no  inherent  reason  why  life  should 
not  be  indefinitely  prolonged  if  the  ceUs 
could  be  constantly  rebuilt,  and  everything 
points  to  the  fact  that  the  man  of  the  future 


Modus  Operandi  —  Continued        171 

will  live  longer  than  the  present  generation. 
As  it  is,  the  vast  majority  of  deaths  are  pre- 
matiu'e  and  few  can  be  called  natural. 

Old  age  is  not  a  disease,  and  who  would 
not  prefer  to  come  to  his  time  of  departure 
like  Moses  with  "eye  undimmed  and  his 
natural  strength  not  abated,"  than  to  pass 
through  the  physical  and  mental  decrepitude 
which  attends  so  many  in  their  dechning 
years? 

All  have  known  some  instances  of  such  a 
"green  old  age,"  where  at  the  last  only  a  sigh 
has  marked  the  translation  of  the  passing 
saint. 

Dr.  Quackenbos  teaches  that  the  mental 
faculties  can  be  preserved  by  suggestions  caus- 
ing an  undiminished  supply  of  blood  to  the 
brain,  and  predicts  the  return  of  the  age  of 
euthanasia,  or  "sweet  and  happy  dying." 

He  who  has  lost  all  fear  has  conquered 
death,  and  to  him  indeed,  "There  is  no 
death,  what  seems  so  is  transition."  There 
is  every  reason  to  beUeve  that  natural  death 
is  as  painless  as  birth. 

To  the  man  who  has  lived  as  God  ordains, 


172  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

there  comes  a  time  when  his  thoughts  natu- 
rally turn  away  from  earth  to  "the  better 
land"  and  he  sings: 

"There  the  sunbeams  are  ever  shining, 
Oh,  my  longing  heart,  my  longing  heart  is  there." 

His  soul  is  ripe  for  the  gamer,  his  will  to 
live  is  no  longer  dominant,  and  his  only 
desire  is  "to  depart  and  be  with  Christ,  which 
is  far  better." 

Well  may  we  all  pray,  "Let  me  Uve  the  life 
of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  hke 
his,"  "for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace." 

SUMMARY 
Health  through  Self-control 

This  form  of  cure  is  based  upon  the  belief  that  all 
the  bodily  forces  and  functions  can  be  brought  under 
one's  control  through  the  will.  Of  first  importance 
is  the  control  of  the  circulation  of  the  blood,  which  is 
the  hfe  stream,  and  is  the  basis  of  all  cures. 

To  secure  this  power,  assert  your  self-mastery,  and 
bring  the  body  into  subjection  by  enforcing  the  desire 
through  the  commands. 

These  commands  are  transmitted  by  the  brain  and 
nervous  system  to  every  part  of  the  body,  and  wiU  be 
automatically  obeyed  under  the  outlined  conditions. 


Modus  Operandi  —  Continued        173 

Time,  —  Last  thing  at  night,  and  first  thing  in  the 
morning,  just  after  prayer,  and  in  the  middle  of  the 
day  when  resting,  if  convenient,  giving  from  ten  to 
twenty  minutes  each  time. 

Relaxation.  —  Secure  as  perfect  relaxation  as  pos- 
sible before  giving  the  commands,  as  this  relieves  all 
strain  and  allows  nature  to  do  her  work  without 
interference. 

Mental  condition.  —  First:  the  same  implicit,  simple 
trust  with  which  you  would  ask  any  other  good  — 
without  questioning  or  anxiety  as  to  the  outcome. 
Second :  confidence  in  the  principle  that  the  mind  should 
control  the  body,  and  that  it  is  your  privilege  to  gain 
health  by  controlling  your  mind.  Also  that  it  is  God's 
will  for  you,  and  health  may  be  yours  by  obeying  His 
law's,  and  cooperating  with  Him  in  casting  out  and 
overcoming  disease  just  as  you  would  cast  out  and 
overcome  sin. 

Concentration.  —  In  giving  the  commands,  hold  your 
mind  as  firmly  as  possible  to  the  subject.  Discipline 
both  mind  and  body  until  you  can  enforce  obedience. 
Expect  response,  but  be  brave  and  patient  until  you 
secure  results. 

Self-control.  —  Preserve  your  self-control  in  every 
other  respect,  and  do  not  allow  yourself  to  be  dis- 
turbed by  anything  which  may  happen. 

Remember  always  that  you  have  the  remedy  within 

yourself,  and  that   if   you   fulfill   the    condition  and 

persevere,  it  is  only  a  question  of  a  little  time  imtil 

you  will  succeed. 

Method  of  procedure.  —  Commencing  with  the  brain, 


174  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

go  through  the  body  in  thought,  one  organ  at  a  time, 
slowly,  firmly  commanding  the  organ  to  do  what  by 
nature  it  should  do,  as  follows: 

I  command  the  arteries  in  the  brain  to  open  to  allow 
free  entrance  of  blood.  I  command  the  hfe  forces  in 
the  blood  to  overcome  all  disease.  I  command  the 
brain  to  do  its  work  in  clear  thinking.  I  command 
every  artery  and  cell  in  the  lungs  to  open  to  allow 
free  circulation  of  blood  and  perfect  breathing.  I 
command  the  life  forces  to  overcome  all  disease  there. 
Continue  until  you  have  given  the  command  to  every 
organ  and  all  parts  of  the  body,  with  special  stress  on 
the  parts  eepecially  affected,  including  the  nervous 
system. 

You  can  stimulate  digestion  by  commands  to  the 
stomach  glands  to  produce  more  digestive  fluids;  can 
relieve  indigestion  by  forcing  the  pylorus  to  open  and 
allow  the  food  to  pass  out.  You  can  cause  the  bowels 
to  act  by  willing  the  organs  concerned  in  elimination 
to  function  properly.  In  every  case  mentally  will  the 
eflPect  you  desire  to  produce  according  to  your  special 
need. 


XIII 

PRACTICAL  SUGGESTIONS 


CHAPTER  XIII 

PRACTICAL  SUGGESTIONS 

HEALTH  is  a  relative  matter,  and  all 
may  not  expect  to  attain  the  same 
standard  of  vigor. 

Hence,  in  yom*  seeking,  do  not  look  for  a 
miracle  that  will  transform  a  weakUng  into 
an  athlete,  but  be  thankful  to  make  as  much 
as  possible  out  of  your  natural  constitution. 

Temporary  relapses  into  former  conditions 
sometimes  occur,  but  this  is  equally  true  in 
convalescence  through  any  other  means. 

It  seems  to  be  a  law  of  the  nervous  system 
to  find  its  equilibrium  by  a  series  of  *'ups  and 
downs."  Progress  in  anything  in  life  is  sel- 
dom steady,  but  if  the  general  trend  is  toward 
recovery,  there  is  no  reason  for  discourage- 
ment, but  rather  for  getting  a  Uttle  stronger 
grip  on  one's  self.  Improvement  may  be 
rapid  at  first,  but  slower  later.  The  reason 
may  be  found  in  this  statement  from  Hoffman: 
"Nervous  energy  for  any  kind  of  response 


178  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

is  limited.  If  the  stimulation  is  continuous 
the  response  must  become  gradually  less 
energetic."  This  would  indicate  that  in  the 
use  of  the  will  the  nervous  reserve  is  first 
drawn  upon,  and  afterwards  the  improvement 
is  to  be  made  by  building  up  impaired  tissue, 
which  is  a  much  slower  process. 

However,  we  must  continue  to  use  the 
stimulus  of  the  will,  as  "long  continued 
stimuli  tend  to  make  new  reflex  paths  in  the 
nervous  matter." 

We  are  told  that  a  certain  amount  of 
stimulus  is  expended  in  rousing  nervous 
matter. 

If  no  more  is  added,  the  inertia  will  not  be 
overcome.  Does  not  this  show  the  need  of 
perseverance  in  sending,  not  weak  suggestions, 
but  imperative  commands,  over  the  nerve 
paths  .^ 

Every  intense  form  of  mental  activity  tends 
spontaneously  to  work  itself  out  for  good  or 
ill  upon  the  body,  or  to  "generate  its  ac- 
tuaUty,"  so  in  wiUing  to  be  weU  one  is  pro- 
ceeding not  only  according  to  the  law  of  faith, 
but  of  fact. 


Practical  Suggestions  179 

Some  will  succeed  sooner  than  others  for 
various  reasons.  A  stronger  faith,  a  more 
responsive  nervous  system,  a  more  plastic 
brain  and  body,  may  all  be  contributing  causes 
to  success,  but  the  possibiKty  is  open  to  all, 
and  will  be  grasped  by  many  as  soon  as 
presented  to  them. 

Of  this  matter  Dr.  Schofield  writes :  "  Mental 
therapeutics  may  be  directed  by  the  patient 
himself  in  calming  the  mind  in  excitement, 
and  arousing  feeUngs  of  joy,  hope,  faith  and 
love."  Also,  '*  We  are  incHned  to  beUeve  that 
the  forces  a  patient  can  set  in  action  to  cure 
himself  are  far  greater  than  most  imagine,  and 
will  undoubtedly  be  used  more  and  more." 

The  nervous  system  is  the  first  to  feel  the 
effect  of  the  mental  treatment,  but  some  physi- 
ologists beUeve  that  the  energy  of  the  mind  is 
imparted  to  all  the  Hfe  forces,  that  in  time  of 
need  the  will  can  act  in  imion  with  the 
natural  tendency  of  the  body  to  summon  the 
white  corpuscles  to  the  rescue  and  stimulate 
them  to  greater  activity. 

Dr.  Sadler  and  Professor  Olston  both  sug- 
gest this   possibiUty,    which    if   true    opens 


180  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

the  way  for  the  healing  of  a  great  variety 
of  aihnents. 

Dr.  Schofield  says,  "Believing  as  we  do  that 
the  old  division  into  functional  and  organic 
diseases  is  merely  the  expression  of  our  ig- 
norance, and  that  all  diseases,  even  hysterical, 
probably  involve  organic  disturbance  some- 
where, we  may  beUeve  that  mental  cures  are 
not  limited  to  so-called  functional  diseases 
at  all." 

While  realizing  that  "all  things  are  possible 
with  God,"  yet  this,  or  any  other  form  of 
mental  healing,  cannot  be  a  universal  panacea 
because  of  the  human  element  in  it. 

If  disease  has  advanced  to  the  point  where 
there  is  a  great  deal  of  cell  destruction  in  vital 
organs,  or  where  the  reserve  strength  has  been 
exhausted  by  prolonged  struggle,  perhaps  the 
best  that  can  be  hoped  for  is  partial  restora- 
tion, but  at  any  rate  the  full  power  of  the 
latent  capacities  of  mind  and  body  will  have 
been  drawn  upon. 

The  only  way  to  build  up  the  moral 
character  of  the  child  is  to  "bring  him  up  in 
the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord." 


Practical  Suggestions  181 

Just  as  true  is  it  that  to  early  learn  and  obey 
the  mental  laws  through  which  one  can 
build  up  a  strong  resistance  to  the  first  inroads 
of  disease  is  the  only  sure  way  to  constant 
health. 

The  great  endeavor  of  our  leaders  in  this 
line  of  thought  must  be  to  bring  these  truths 
to  the  attention  and  comprehension  of  the 
masses,  till  aU  shall  know  and  enjoy  what  is 
now  the  possession  of  the  few. 


XIV 

THE  SCOPE  OF  THE  WORK  AND 
ITS  LIMITATIONS 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE  SCOPE  OF  THE  WORK  AND  ITS 
LIMITATIONS 

IN  writing  of  the  scope  of  this  form  of 
mind  cure,  it  must  be  understood  that 
the  writer  is  speaking  from  observation  ex- 
tending over  :a  period  of  but  three  years. 
But  enough  has  been  seen  and  done  to 
demonstrate  that  it  is  as  efficacious  as  any 
other  form  of  mental  treatment.  The  same 
kind  of  ailments  as  are  successfully  treated 
by  the  Christian  Science,  Immanuel,  and 
other  practitioners,  yield  to  this  self-treat- 
ment. Through  private  instruction,  in  parlor 
classes,  and  in  large  meetings  held  in  our 
church,  these  principles  of  healing  through 
self-mastery  have  been  taught  and  the  hearers 
have  appUed  them  to  their  own  needs. 
Among  those  in  attendance,  many  have  been 
able  to  grasp  the  truth  and  apply  it  to  their 
great  advantage.  Only  ladies  have  been  in 
the  classes,  but  all  earnest,  intelligent  women 


186  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

from  probably  a  dozen  different  denomina- 
tions. No  bar  of  any  kind  to  attendance 
was  set  up,  except  that  of  curiosity,  and  no 
charge  was  ever  made. 

Among  the  ailments  overcome,  either  re- 
ported privately  or  spoken  of  in  the  meetings, 
are  insomnia,  various  forms  of  indigestion,  — 
in  one  case  of  seventeen  years'  standing,  — 
chronic  vomiting,  sick  and  nervous  head- 
aches, constipation  in  its  most  severe  forms  of 
from  twenty  to  twenty-five  years'  duration, 
muscular  cramps,  neuritis,  nervous  chills, 
prolapsus  uteri,  mental  depression  and  irrita- 
biUty,  palpitation  of  the  heart,  dilation  of 
the  heart,  nervous  breakdown  with  severe 
pain  in  spine,  accompanied  by  melanchoUa 
and  tears,  such  poor  circulation  that  no 
amount  of  clothing  would  give  warmth  or 
comfort,  loss  of  memory,  mental  confusion, 
backache,  autointoxication,  a  variety  of  colds 
and  catarrhs,  severe  neurasthenia,  nervous 
debility,  deranged  womanly  functions,  falling 
hair,  and  many  other  conditions.  More  seri- 
ous troubles,  as  chronic  appendicitis,  heart 
weakness,  high  blood  pressure,  hemorrhages 


Scope  of  the  Work  and  Its  Limitations    187 

from  different  sources,  have  been  greatly 
helped. 

In  consequence,  many  minds  have  been 
cleared  and  cheered,  health  and  happiness 
have  been  twin  guests,  and  gratitude  has 
increased  the  spiritual  life.  As  one  dear  young 
lady  said  after  recovery  from  a  condition 
which  her  physician  said  demanded  a  sur- 
gical operation,  "I  never  before  appreciated 
my  mind  or  knew  how  much  I  owed  to  God 
for  giving  it  to  me."  Another  said,  *' Every 
cure  has  passed  me  by  till  now."  Another, 
*'It  is  a  perfect  revelation  to  me  to  learn  that 
we  have  such  a  power  within  oxu*selves." 

Many  of  these  persons  had  studied  Christian 
Science  and  been  under  its  healers  for  long 
periods  without  avail,  but  were  able  to  grasp 
this  simple  teaching  and  received  help  at 
once  through  their  own  efforts. 

One  lady,  after  reporting  the  physical 
benefit  received,  said,  "  I  have  tried  Christian 
Science  and  New  Thought,  have  dipped  into 
spirituaUsm  and  the  occult,  but  now  I  have 
found  just  what  I  want,"  and  the  best  of  it 
was  that  she  had  found  it  within  herself. 


188  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

How  often  do  we  seek  the  wide  world  over, 
only  to  come  back  to  find  our  treasure  right 
at  home.  ''The  word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in 
thy  heart." 

These,  at  first  blush,  do  not  seem  very 
serious  ailments,  and  yet  they  affect  happi- 
ness as  much  or  more  than  more  dangerous 
diseases.  To  cure  nervous  weakness  of  any 
kind  is  to  ward  off  the  grave  consequences 
which  follow  in  its  train.  To  keep  the  body 
up  to  normal  is  to  give  it  power  to  resist 
infection,  contagion,  and  every  other  threaten- 
ing invasion. 

Who  can  estimate  the  value  to  nutrition 
and  body  building  of  good  digestion?  Or  the 
advantage  to  health  of  a  clean  alimentary 
canal,  especially  the  colon,  —  the  so-called 
sewer  of  the  system,  —  the  most  fruitful 
source  of  disease  in  the  whole  body? 

Only  time  and  experience  will  prove  how 
wide  is  the  range  of  application  of  the  mind 
as  a  sanative  agent.  The  only  wise  pro- 
cedure is  to  begin  early,  and  not  wait  till 
so-called  incurable  conditions  have  developed. 

The  old  way  was  to  try  every  possible 


Scope  of  the  Work  and  Its  Limitations    189 

earthly  expedient,  and  then  when  hope  was 
all  but  fled  expect  God  to  perform  a  miracle. 
The  safer  course  is  to  learn  to  obey  the  mental 
laws  of  health  from  the  first,  just  as  the  child 
learns  to  obey  human  and  divine  laws.  The 
old  hymn  runs: 

"While  the  lamp  holds  out  to  bum, 
The  vilest  sinner  may  return." 

Yes,  he  may  return,  but  how  few  in  reality 
do  return  after  a  life  spent  in  sin. 

Just  so,  the  confirmed  invaKd  has  a  tre- 
mendous handicap  to  overcome,  and  pain, 
weakness  of  faith  and  will,  real  mental  in- 
abiUty  for  the  effort,  are  often  insuperable 
obstacles  to  his  success. 

Our  authorities  say  that  the  range  of  dis- 
eases which  can  be  reached  by  the  mind  is 
constantly  widening.  They  also  say  that 
mind  has  its  Hmitations,  but  they  have  never 
been  reached.  Nowhere  is  Christ's  saying 
more  appUcable  than  here:  "According  to 
your  faith  be  it  unto  you." 

We  certainly  cannot  limit  God's  power, 
which  is  ever  constant;  but  reaUzing  the  part 


190  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

the  human  mind  plays,  it  is  easy  to  see  how 
each  can  Umit  his  own  possibiUties.  The 
present  generation  is  seeing  but  the  first 
faint  gleam  of  this  wonderful  truth,  but  in 
future  years  mental  hygiene  will  be  taught 
from  early  life,  bodily  health  will  be  as  much 
the  heritage  of  the  race  as  any  other  promised 
blessing,  and  it  will  be  "without  money  and 
without  price." 


CONCLUSION 


CONCLUSION 

NO  one  can  reaKze  more  fully  than  the 
writer  the  inadequacy  of  this  effort  to 
bridge  the  chasm  existing  between  the  ex- 
treme positions  occupied  by  the  material 
scientist,  who  sees  in  mental  cures  only  the 
drawing  out  of  the  hidden  powers  of  the 
mind  through  suggestion,  and  the  advocate 
of  faith  cure,  who  attributes  everything  to 
a  direct  act  of  God  in  miracle  working. 

Between  these  extremes  are  many  different 
theories  leaning  to  one  or  the  other  of  these 
views,  but  usually  but  one  side  of  the  shield 
is  seen  and  presented. 

Perhaps  it  is  to  be  expected  that  the 
scientist  will  recognize  only  the  human  side, 
and  the  reUgious  man  only  the  divine  ele- 
ments involved.  But  in  the  mind  of  the 
writer,  the  gap  is  fully  closed,  and  the  recon- 
cihation  is  complete.  We  may  safely  say 
that  both  have  a  measure  of  truth,  and  since 


194  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

two  truths  never  conflict,  there  must  be  some 
way  of  harmonizing  them. 

The  Creator  has  evidently  endowed  man 
with  greater  powers  than  he  has  hitherto 
reaUzed,  but  these  powers  are  available  only 
under  certain  conditions  and  can  be  used  only 
according  to  laws  of  which  we  have  been 
ignorant. 

We  are  now  learning  the  laws  controlling 
these  human  powers,  through  scientific  study 
of  the  mind,  through  psychological  ex- 
periments in  the  laboratory,  and  through 
the  practice  of  various  forms  of  mental 
therapeutics. 

But  when  the  brain  has  been  studied  and 
mapped  out,  the  mind  analyzed  and  its 
action  observed,  there  is  still  something 
beyond,  which  comes  in  to  supplement 
the  personal  endeavor,  which  cannot  be 
realized  except  by  those  who  have  felt  its 
power. 

One  last  personal  word  will  be  permitted 
on  this  point.  This  method  of  healing  was 
presented  to  me  as  a  scientific  matter  purely, 
and  was  used    in   that    spirit,   but  in  the 


Conclusion  195 


subsequent  experience  its  spiritual  qualities 
were  fully  realized. 

The  results  were  so  far  beyond  anything 
expected  merely  in  response  to  the  will,  that 
the  only  possible  conclusion  was  that  the 
work  wrought  was  not  only  in  accordance 
with  divine  law,  but  through  the  mighty 
energy  of  divine  power. 

Nor  does  this  view  tend  in  any  degree  to 
discredit  science,  but  rather  to  exalt  it,  through 
an  experience  showing  how  nearly  science 
has  demonstrated  the  ultimate  truth  of  re- 
Ugion  that  in  the  matter  of  heahng  as  in  all 
else  concerning  our  welfare,  "We  are  workers 
together  with  God." 

Whatever  the  scientist  may  think,  the  re- 
ligious mind  should  be  fair  and  broad  enough 
to  welcome  an  interpretation  which  fully 
acknowledges  the  presence  and  power  of  the 
divine  energy,  and  yet  shows  that  man's 
initiative  effort  is  in  accordance  with  the 
known  facts  of  scientific  discovery. 

Thus  the  two  phases  of  the  subject,  instead 
of  being  contradictory,  become  complementary 
truths,  and  a  way  is  thus  opened  up  for  man, 


196  Mental  Control  of  the  Body 

through  divine  assistance,  to  work  out  his 
physical  salvation. 

A  sincere  effort  has  been  made  to  treat 
this  subject  with  great  moderation,  while 
fully  reahzing  its  far-reaching  possibiUties. 
To  make  extravagant  claims  is  only  to  court 
humiUation,  since  ideal  and  universal  results 
can  be  reached  only  after  the  truth  has  been 
fully  incorporated  into  the  mind  of  the  world. 

We  know  we  are  but  heralds  of  that  time 
of  which  the  Lord  said,  "In  that  day  I  wiU 
put  my  laws  into  their  mind,  and  write  them 
in  their  hearts,"  and  when  the  prophesy,  "All 
shall  know  me  from  the  least  to  the  greatest," 
is  fulfilled,  obedience  to  these  laws  will  mean 
the  salvation  of  the  whole  man. 

May  God  speed  the  day! 

"Hear  the  footsteps  of  Jesus! 

He  is  now  passing  by; 
Bearing  balm  for  the  wounded, 

Healing  all  who  apply; 
As  He  spake  to  the  suff'rer, 

Who  lay  at  the  pool, 
He  is  saying  this  moment, 

*Wilt  thou  be  made  whole?**' 


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